Pollution from an oil spill has washed up along the east coast, forcing the authorities to close a public beach in Sharjah.
Residents reported the 3-kilometre oil slick along Kalba beach to authorities on Sunday.
It is the third oil spill reported along the east coast of the UAE this year.
Oil spills typically occur when vessels clean their tanks by flushing any residue from their tanks into international waters.
The black sludge inevitably washes ashore, causing damage to marine life and ecosystems.