An oil spill with a radius of six miles has been reported by the Federal Environmental Agency in Abu Dhabi near an environmentally protected island off Sharjah. An emergency meeting was held at the FEA headed by Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Madfa, Minister of Health and board chairman of the FEA; Salem Masri Al Dhaheri, FEA Director General, and the FEA technical team, to combat the slick near Sir Bu Nuair Island.

"The team started immediately controlling the slick which is spreading over a radius of six miles all round the island," he said. The slick has caused the death of a number of fish and birds on the island. "All the authorities concerned in the UAE will collaborate and use their best resources to protect the natural and marine life of Sir Bu Nuair island," he said.

During the emergency meeting with the Minister of Health, Dr. Salem Masri Al Dhaheri, Director General of the FEA, said that the agency took immediate action. It contacted the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co for help in controlling the situation. The FEA is setting up a central operations room to monitor the situation.