Municipal response teams deploy protective barriers along the shoreline as authorities urge beachgoers to rely strictly on official directives
SHARJAH, Oct. 28, 2026 : Authorities in Sharjah temporarily closed public beaches across the city on Wednesday as a preventive measure against approaching marine pollution caused by an offshore tanker oil spill, the Sharjah Government Media Bureau announced.
The preventative shutdown is aimed at stopping drifting petroleum slicks from reaching sensitive urban coastal stretches, the media office said in an official statement. Specialised environmental response units and maritime teams are deploying containment resources along the waterfront to protect public shorelines and mitigate ecological damage.
Municipal and civil defense agencies urged residents, tourists, and mariners to stay away from the affected areas and comply with maritime safety advisories. Officials stressed the need for the public to monitor updates through certified government channels and warned against circulating unverified claims or speculation on social media.
The move follows a broader coastal containment operation across the northern United Arab Emirates. Sharjah authorities had previously placed Al Hamriyah Beach—near the northern border—under access restrictions after offshore slicks were detected in surrounding Gulf waters. Neighboring Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah also imposed temporary closures on coastal strips to safeguard marine reserves and recreational assets.
Emergency response crews, coordinated under federal environmental frameworks, continue to monitor drift patterns and sea conditions to clear residue before it makes landfall. Local officials have not specified a reopening timeline, indicating that beaches will welcome visitors again once field teams complete water sampling and confirm the coastline is fully secure
