Up to 50 tonnes of bunker fuel is thought to have hit the beach and the slick has created a 25-metre stretch of oil-smeared water stretching from Corniche through to the port of Dubai.
According to reports in the media, it is not clear what was the cause of the slick or whether any culprits have been apprehended. The maritime authorities of the Emirates were not available for comment.
It is understood, however, there were between 35 to 40 ships within UAE territorial water and most of the vessels were oil tankers waiting for loads from one of the many terminals in the Arabian Gulf.
