The Hallaniyat Islands, located off the southern coast of Oman in the Dhofar Governorate, were struck by an oil spill after a shipping vessel ran aground in August 2026. The slick, estimated to cover approximately 600 square kilometers, poses a significant threat to the region's protected marine ecosystem, including endangered species and pristine coral reefs. Omani authorities have initiated containment efforts to mitigate environmental damage to this protected nature reserve. The islands were formally designated as a protected nature reserve by Royal Decree in 2025 due to their high biodiversity.