UAE beaches closed because of an oil slick: what travelers should do

An oil slick off the UAE coast is spreading, and authorities have closed beaches in three emirates. For anyone flying to Dubai or Abu Dhabi the main questions are whether you can swim, whether the airports work and what to do with the ticket. This is what the source reports as of October 26, 2026, plus practical advice.

What happened

According to Info24, citing Reuters, the oil slick from the damaged tanker Gem No.2 keeps growing. Satellite images from October 24 show the pollution approaching the shores of Umm Al Quwain. Experts estimate the slick at about 160 square kilometers and about 90 kilometers long.

Beaches are closed in three emirates:

• Umm Al Quwain;
• Sharjah (Al Hamriyah beach);
• Ras Al Khaimah, where the restrictions are indefinite.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change said the fumes pose no health threat. Environmentalists warn of risks to coral reefs and marine life.

What about Dubai and Abu Dhabi

According to the same source, the Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports are working. Neither Dubai nor Abu Dhabi is named among the closed beaches. The mass cancellations concern flights to Saudi Arabia: Emirates cancelled flights to Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Riyadh, flydubai suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha until October 29, and Etihad cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Dammam and Riyadh until November 5. If your route does not go to Saudi Arabia, this does not affect you.

On October 26 Dubai was partly cloudy, about 34 to 35 °C by day and 26 °C at night. Abu Dhabi reached 35 °C by day. The weather service warns of possible rain in the north and east of the country, and fog at night and in the morning.

What to do if you are flying to the UAE

1. Ask your hotel which beach is open. Ask whether its own beach works and whether swimming is restricted.
2. Choose an emirate without restrictions. The closed beaches are listed above. Check others with the hotel.
3. Check your flight status on the airline's website and the airport board on the day. For delays, see flight delay and cancellation compensation.
4. If the airline cancelled your flight, see flight refund rights.
5. If you bought a package, ask the tour operator about hotel changes: it answers under the contract.

Travel insurance

Buy a policy before departure: it does not cover an event that is already known. What a policy usually includes and what to check in the terms is in travel insurance for trips abroad. If you already have a policy, ask the insurer how it handles environmental and weather events.

Where to look next

For fares see cheap flights to Dubai, and for the area guides Dubai areas and where to stay, Abu Dhabi things to do and the quieter Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. Compare dates in the HotTrip flight search.

Frequently asked questions

Are Dubai beaches closed?

The source does not name Dubai among the closed beaches. Beaches are closed in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah (Al Hamriyah) and Ras Al Khaimah.

Are the Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports working?

According to Info24 as of October 26, 2026, yes. The cancellations mostly concern flights to Saudi Arabia.

Are the oil fumes dangerous?

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change said the fumes pose no threat to health. Environmentalists point to risks for reefs and marine life.

What if my flight is cancelled?

The airline refunds it. See flight refund rights.

Cover: photo by Denys Gromov on Pexels