UAE Closes Coastal Zones As Gem No.2 Tanker Spill Expands

The primary conflict now facing the United Arab Emirates is the rapid expansion of an oil slick that has reached its northern coastline. Authorities closed beaches near Umm Al Quwain on Thursday after confirmed video showed blackened water washing ashore on Friday. The spill originates from the Gem No. 2, a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker that was hit by an unknown projectile on 9 October.

Satellite imagery confirms the scale of the disaster. A small leak was first visible on 19 October, but the volume grew sharply over the next two days. By Wednesday, the slick stretched more than 35km from the vessel's location. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment stated that it immediately began containment efforts to limit environmental impacts.

The environmental risk is concentrated in the Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands, a globally recognized Key Biodiversity Area. This habitat supports corals, seagrasses, and saltmarshes, as well as green turtles and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish. Eoghan Darbyshire, a scientist at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, identified the spill's proximity to these islands as the most concerning environmental angle.

Prof Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, told BBC Verify that an impact is inevitable. He noted that spills can kill marine life quickly by trapping turtles or smothering seabirds. Long-term harm is also possible if species remain exposed to toxic compounds, which may affect their ability to reproduce. Researchers caution that the final severity depends on the oil's volume, type, and the effectiveness of the cleanup.

The Gem No. 2 was struck just north of Al Jazeera Al Hamra, sparking a fire that was later extinguished. Iranian state media reported that the vessel was attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz via an unauthorized and dangerous route. All 22 Indian crew members were rescued, according to the Indian consulate in Dubai on 11 October.

Security experts describe the attack as part of an Iranian effort to assert greater control over the waterway. This move follows the US military escorting more vessels through the strait. The Gem No. 2 was one of a record number of ships attacked in the region at the start of October, continuing a pattern of strikes on commercial ships by both Iranian and US forces.

This incident adds to a series of environmental disasters in the region. In August, a similar large oil slick reached the shores of Iran's Qeshm Island, threatening local wildlife, protected ecosystems, and fishing communities.