Oil Spill off UAE Coast Worsens, Beaches Closed A growing oil spill off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has led to further beach closures, according to satellite images. The spill, which originated from a damaged tanker, has expanded over the past few days, with dark layers of oil spreading at sea and along the coastline of the northern Umm Al Quwain emirate. The European Union's Copernicus satellite observation network captured images of the oil spill on October 24, showing its widening reach. The incident has raised environmental concerns, particularly in the wake of recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping route, has seen increased security risks and environmental fears since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran. The authorities in the UAE have not yet identified the tanker involved in the incident or disclosed the cause of the spill. However, experts believe the oil release may have originated from the Gem No.2, a vessel that was reportedly struck by an unidentified projectile in September. The incident has prompted the closure of beaches in the UAE, with authorities in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain announcing that all beaches would remain closed until further notice.