Authorities in Ras Al Khaimah have reopened seven beaches after a tanker oil spill forced closures across the United Arab Emirates' northern coast last month.

The emirate's Public Services Department announced the reopening on Thursday, Reuters reported, saying four public beaches and three resort beaches were safe to visit again after clean-up work. The announcement was shared by the Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office.

The public beaches now open are Flamingo Beach, Dahan Beach, Al Mairid Beach and Al Rams Corniche. Access has also been restored to the beaches at the Anantara Mina Al Arab, InterContinental Mina Al Arab and The Cove Rotana resorts.

The spill that shut the coast

Beaches across the northern emirates were closed as a precaution after an oil spill from a damaged tanker was detected off the coast of Umm Al Quwain on 23 October. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed that pollution from the incident had reached the shoreline.

International maritime agencies identified the vessel as the Gem No. 2, which was damaged in a suspected attack in the Gulf earlier in October. UAE authorities confirmed on 30 October that the leak from the tanker had been stopped at its source, with no fresh leakage detected.

Ras Al Khaimah had closed all of its public beaches on 24 October until further notice while clean-up and safety assessments were carried out.

Most beaches still closed

The reopening covers only part of the affected coastline. Most beaches in Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah remain closed, and the Ras Al Khaimah authorities said other beaches in the emirate were still shut, with further updates to come through official channels. Residents and visitors were urged to follow safety instructions from the relevant authorities.

The spill's effects have also reached the UAE's east coast. Khor Fakkan municipality temporarily closed Al Luluyah Beach on 9 November after patches of oil were found on the shore, and said it would announce a reopening once the clean-up was complete and the site declared safe. The authorities have not said where that oil came from.

The spill has been described as the worst in the Arabian Gulf in years. Maritime agencies said the Gem No. 2 was struck on 9 to 10 October, and the slick it released spread along the northern emirates' coastline, forcing the closures that have kept holidaymakers away from the shore for almost three weeks.

The reopening of the seven Ras Al Khaimah beaches is the first significant easing of the restrictions since the spill, and a sign that clean-up work in the emirate is making progress even as much of the northern coastline remains off limits.