Emirates closed part of the beaches due to an oil spill

Oil leaking from a damaged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz has reached the shores of the UAE, prompting beach closures in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. The tanker, identified as Gem No.2, was reportedly hit by an unidentified projectile last month. The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change confirmed that the odor of gasoline in the area is due to oil-contaminated water. Cleanup efforts have led to the temporary suspension of fishing and raised concerns about environmental contamination and the impact on desalination plants, which supply over 80% of the UAE's drinking water. Experts warn that oil spills can disrupt desalination operations, although the current incident is not as severe as past events. Frequent attacks on vessels near the Strait have been reported amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the US.