22 Crew Rescued By UAE National Guard After Cargo Ship Fire

The UAE National Guard rescued all 22 crew members of a cargo ship that caught fire in the Gulf of Oman, according to a statement issued on November 8, 2026.

The Coast Guard said in a post on the social media platform X that it launched the operation after the ship’s crew reported the fire.

Specialised teams were sent immediately to locate the vessel. The crew was brought to safety.

The crew, all Arab nationals, received basic medical aid on the spot before the concerned authorities took charge of them. The National Guard said that all 22 of them are in stable condition.

It added that the operation reflected the readiness of its personnel to respond to maritime emergencies and their commitment to protecting lives.

However, the National Guard did not name the ship or its flag, nor did it say what caused the fire.

According to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), it had received a report on Saturday of an incident involving a bulk carrier and military forces in the Gulf of Oman, east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE. No details were given on the role of the military forces, and it is not clear whether the incident is linked to the fire.

UKMTO, which is run by the UK Royal Navy, is the main point of contact for merchant ships to report incidents in the region.

The Gulf of Oman forms the approach to the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen a series of attacks on merchant ships since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. The US has also been enforcing a naval blockade against Iran in these waters.

On October 10, the same force had pulled 22 Asian seafarers out of a burning oil tanker in the Arabian Gulf.

Sources: UAE National Guard (via Gulf News, Kuwait Times/KUNA, Middle East Eye, ANI), UKMTO