RUT: no mass cancellations of tours to Ras Al Khaimah due to the oil spill

Tour operators see no mass cancellations

There is no evidence of Russians massively cancelling trips to the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah following an oil spill off the coast of the UAE, the Russian Union of Tour Operators (RUT) told Gazeta.Ru. The union stressed the scale of the destination: according to its statistics, Ras Al Khaimah accounts for 0.4% of Russian tourist flow to the UAE. The situation nevertheless varies from hotel to hotel — some beaches are closed, while others continue to operate. Tour operators are monitoring information from hotels and local receiving companies, handling tourist inquiries and, where necessary, arranging alternative accommodation options.

How refund issues are resolved

The RUT noted that requests to cancel a tour and obtain a refund are considered individually, taking into account the terms of the contract and the specific situation. Refunds are calculated based on the expenses actually incurred by the tour operator — for flights, hotel bookings and other services. Tourists wishing to change or cancel their trip were advised to contact the agency where the tour was purchased and clarify the available options. According to union representatives, at present neither the local authorities nor the Russian regulator have issued any recommendations restricting travel to Ras Al Khaimah.

What happened in the UAE

On 23 October, the UAE authorities recorded an oil spill from a tanker off the coast of the emirate of Umm Al Quwain, located between Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. The country's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment announced the closure of the emirate's beaches and the start of oil clean-up work. The same day, the Sharjah authorities announced the temporary closure of Al Hamriyah beach due to the approaching oil slick. On 24 October, Ras Al Khaimah's Public Services Department announced the closure of the emirate's beaches until further notice.

Context and significance

Despite beach closures in several emirates at once, the tourist flow to Ras Al Khaimah is small, according to the RUT's estimate — 0.4% of the Russian flow to the UAE, which explains the absence of mass cancellations. For tourists who have purchased tours, the practical takeaway from the union's position is this: decisions on cancellation and refunds are made individually under the terms of the contract, and the refund amount depends on the expenses actually incurred by the tour operator. No official travel restrictions have been introduced so far, so the situation for each tourist is determined by the condition of the specific hotel and beach.