A low-magnitude earthquake struck the Omani exclave of Madha early Thursday morning, part of a recent string of minor seismic events recorded across the region. Though the tremor was not felt by residents and had no impact, its occurrence follows other small quakes recently reported in Al Sila and Khor Fakkan, drawing attention to the area’s growing geological activity.
Early morning quake in Madha
A magnitude 2.2 earthquake was recorded in Oman’s Madha region at 5:13am on Thursday, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) through its National Seismic Network. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 5 kilometres. Despite the tremor, authorities confirmed that it was not felt by residents and had no effect on surrounding areas, including the UAE. The event was categorised as a minor seismic occurrence, well below the threshold for what is considered a “strong” earthquake—typically defined as magnitude 5 or above.
Understanding Madha’s unique geography
Madha is a 75-hectare landlocked exclave of Oman entirely surrounded by the United Arab Emirates. The territory lies nestled within the UAE’s eastern region, bordered by the emirates of Sharjah, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Although isolated, Madha is officially administered as part of Oman’s Musandam Governorate. Adding to the region’s geographical complexity is the presence of the village of Nahwa, an enclave within Madha itself. Nahwa consists of around 40 houses and is part of the Emirate of Sharjah, making it an enclave within an exclave. Madha’s distinctive position within the UAE makes it geopolitically and logistically unique, especially when it comes to jurisdictional responsibilities such as disaster management and seismic monitoring.
Recent seismic activity across the region
The tremor in Madha follows two other minor earthquakes that were recorded in the UAE earlier this month. On August 5, a magnitude 2.0 earthquake was detected in the Sharjah town of Khor Fakkan at 8:35pm. The tremor was slightly felt by some residents, but according to the NCM, it had no measurable impact. A few days later, a stronger magnitude 3.5 earthquake struck the small Abu Dhabi town of Al Sila, near the Saudi Arabian border. This event was lightly felt in the surrounding area, but again, no damage or disruption was reported. While earthquakes of this magnitude are not uncommon in nearby regions, especially Iran, they remain relatively rare in the UAE and Oman. However, minor tremors triggered by distant seismic activity are occasionally registered by local monitoring stations.
Seismic risk in the UAE and Oman
Though the Arabian Peninsula is not traditionally known for high seismic activity, regional monitoring has shown an uptick in small-magnitude tremors in recent years. Authorities stress that most of these events are harmless and often go unfelt, but they underscore the importance of continued observation. The National Centre of Meteorology, through its National Seismic Network, continues to monitor seismic activity across the region in real time. While Thursday’s event in Madha posed no risk to residents, its occurrence within a broader pattern of minor earthquakes highlights the need for ongoing awareness.