Oil slick pollutes Dubai coast; clean-up under way

DUBAI: An oil slick was spotted off Dubai's coast-line, causing some hotels in the area to keep their private beaches closed.

The Dubai Municipality launched a clean-up campaign immediately after the slick was spotted, a top official said. The origin or cause of the slick is yet to be established, news reports said.

"The oil slick was reported about 2pm (yesterday) and our team rushed to the spot to clean up the affected areas," Dubai Municipality's Head of Environment Protection and Safety, Redha Hassan Salman, told Khaleej Times.

"Many beach-goers were already there when the slick was spotted. Some hotels in the area did close their private beaches," he said.

A spokesperson of Jumeirah, the company which runs luxury hotels along the coastal stretch, said the oil slick was not a major concern.