The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed on Friday, October 22, that an oil spill from a supertanker near the coast of Umm Al Quwain is the source of a strong, unpleasant odour reported in recent days across several emirates, including Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman. The ministry said its technical monitoring and environmental assessment system detected the spill roughly 25 kilometres off Umm Al Quwain's coastline.
Officials stressed that the smell poses no health risk to residents, but urged people to avoid direct contact with any oil that washes ashore. All beaches in Umm Al Quwain have been temporarily closed pending safety assessments, and fishermen have been warned to stay away from affected waters.
The vessel involved is identified as the Gem No. 2, a 330-metre supertanker that was reportedly struck in a suspected drone attack on October 9-10, an incident in which 22 Indian crew members were rescued at the time. The full extent of the current oil slick has not yet been determined, and technical teams are continuing to assess its spread.
The spill has raised concern among residents along the UAE's northern coast, coming at a time when the wider Gulf region is already on edge amid regional security tensions. Authorities say they are monitoring the situation closely and will issue updates as the assessment progresses, while reiterating there is no cause for public alarm over the odour itself.