All public beaches in Ras Al Khaimah are closed until further notice. The emirate’s Public Services Department announced the closure on Saturday 24 October 2026 and said reopening will be announced “in due course”. No specific reason was given. The closure comes a day after a tanker oil spill reached the Umm Al Quwain coast, which has also shut every beach in Umm Al Quwain and Al Hamriyah Beach in Sharjah.
Beach closures in the northern emirates
| Emirate | What is closed | Since | Announced by | Reason given |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ras Al Khaimah | All public beaches | Saturday 24 October 2026 | Public Services Department (with Ras Al Khaimah Police, according to Gulf Business) | Public safety; no specific cause disclosed |
| Umm Al Quwain | All beaches and coastal areas | 23 October 2026 | Ministry of Climate Change and Environment | Tanker oil spill reached the shoreline |
| Sharjah | Al Hamriyah Beach | Friday 23 October 2026 | Sharjah authorities | Precaution against pollution reaching the coast |
| Ajman | No closure notice seen | – | – | Odours reported; the ministry says they pose no health risk |
Beaches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah were not part of these announcements. If you are planning a beach day anywhere on the northern coast this weekend, check the emirate’s official channels before you drive.
Is the Ras Al Khaimah closure linked to the oil spill?
Officially, that has not been said. Both Khaleej Times and Gulf Business report that Ras Al Khaimah did not give a specific reason, and neither reports the authorities linking the decision to the spill. The timing, one day after the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed the tanker spill off Umm Al Quwain, is why many residents assume a connection, but treat that as unconfirmed until the emirate says otherwise.
What the ministry has confirmed: the fuel-like smell noticed in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain comes from the spill, it poses no health risk to residents, and containment, clean-up and coastal monitoring are under way. Umm Al Quwain Municipality says its field teams are still working to contain the spill and limit the damage to marine life. Closures will stay in place until technical teams finish their assessments. Our earlier report has the background: all Umm Al Quwain beaches closed after the tanker oil spill.
What residents should do
- Stay off closed beaches. The Ras Al Khaimah notice asks the public to comply with guidelines from the relevant authorities.
- Do not fish or swim in affected waters along the Umm Al Quwain coast, and follow official instructions if you use a boat or jet ski in the area.
- Wait for official reopening news from the Ras Al Khaimah Public Services Department, Umm Al Quwain Municipality and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, rather than forwarded messages.
- Check the weather too. Rain and hail were reported in parts of the east on 24 October; see our UAE weather outlook for 24 to 27 October.
- Looking for another outing? Our Dubai events calendar lists free and paid events for the season.
Quick answers
Are Ras Al Khaimah beaches open today?
No. The Ras Al Khaimah Public Services Department closed all public beaches in the emirate on Saturday 24 October 2026 until further notice. It has said reopening will be announced in due course.
Why did Ras Al Khaimah close its beaches?
The authorities have not given a specific reason. The closure came a day after a tanker oil spill reached the Umm Al Quwain coast, but Ras Al Khaimah has not officially linked the two.
Is the oil smell in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain harmful?
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has said the odours reported in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain pose no health risk to residents. Clean-up and monitoring are continuing.
Published 25 October 2026. Sources: Khaleej Times (24 and 25 October 2026), Gulf Business (24 October 2026) and Gulf News (24 October 2026), reporting announcements by the Ras Al Khaimah Public Services Department and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. We will update this page when reopening is announced.
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