A 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck the southern part of Musandam on Tuesday afternoon, causing mild tremors that were felt across several northern areas of the United Arab Emirates.
According to a statement issued by the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), the earthquake occurred at 4:40 PM local time at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers.
Authorities confirmed that the quake had no significant impact within the UAE and posed no risk to the public. Residents in parts of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, however, reported feeling light shaking for a few seconds.
Mohammed Al Hassani, Head of the Seismic Monitoring Department at NCM, stated that such tremors are not unusual for the region. While the UAE is not located in a major seismic zone, its proximity to the Zagros Mountains — one of the most active seismic belts in the world — occasionally results in minor tremors being felt across the country.
He added that large earthquakes occurring in neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Iraq, can sometimes trigger light tremors in northern parts of the UAE even from hundreds of kilometers away.
In recent months, similar mild earthquakes have been recorded in areas along the UAE-Oman border, including Madha and Safad near Fujairah.
Experts at NCM reassured the public that these types of shallow and low-magnitude quakes are common in the region and generally have no impact on infrastructure or public safety.
Officials reiterated that the National Center of Meteorology continuously monitors seismic activity across the region and will promptly inform the public in case of any event that could potentially affect the UAE.
