UAE.. Containing the leak from an oil tanker that was involved in an accident off the country’s waters

The UAE Ministry of Environment confirmed, on Friday, that the sources of the oil leak from the oil tanker “GEM NO.2”, which was involved in an accident off the territorial waters of the UAE, have been controlled, while environmental remediation work and pollution containment on the affected coasts of the country are continuing. The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure announced in a statement, “Continuing joint coordination with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, and the relevant federal and local authorities to follow up on the work of securing the oil tanker “GEM No.

The Ministry explained that the specialized technical teams are continuing the technical treatment of the tanker, which included repairing the damaged parts, restoring some operational systems, in addition to assessing the integrity of its structure to determine the most appropriate options for dealing with it safely. The Ministry indicated that, according to the latest field assessments, no new oil leakage was detected from the tanker, while marine and air monitoring and surveillance work continues, and satellite images are being used to closely follow the situation and monitor any developments, according to WAM.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment stated that its technical teams continue to deal with marine pollution resulting from the oil spill, in continuous coordination with the relevant federal and local authorities. It conducts field surveys, monitoring and cleaning operations in coastal areas where pollution has spread. The Ministry added that, according to the latest satellite monitoring images until Friday, October 30, 2026, the oil slick is concentrated off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, extending partially towards coastal areas in Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, and Sharjah.

The Ministry confirmed that the intensity of the observed pollution is witnessing a noticeable decline, with the continuation of work to contain and treat the effects of the leak, which has been stopped at its source. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment explained that efforts to contain and treat pollution depend mainly on mechanical means of control, in addition to the use of chemical dispersants in accordance with international standards and approved technical guidelines, and in coordination with the relevant authorities, according to WAM.

The Ministry stressed that temporarily closing a number of beaches and coastal areas is a precautionary measure.