Residents of Ras Al Khaimah reported feeling gentle tremors around 3pm on Sunday - a result of an earthquake that struck Qeshm Island, south of Iran.
The National Centre of Meteorology confirmed that Qeshm Island was hit by a 5 magnitude tremor at 2.54pm. It said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 42km and was slightly felt by residents in RAK.
No injuries or damage were reported, the centre said.
One resident in the Khuzam area said that she was watching TV when she felt the tremor.
“I thought that I got dizzy for a second but when I saw the chandelier moving I realised that it was an earthquake,” said Mariam Zaid, 22.
“It lasted only for a few seconds I guess, but nothing was damaged,” she said.
Last December, Masafi, a town located between Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, was hit by a 2.1 magnitude tremor that occurred at a depth of 11km. Nobody was injured and no buildings were damaged.
In October 2018, reports of minor tremors associated with loud noises were reported by residents in the northern emirates. The National Centre of Meteorology confirmed an earthquake measuring 2.1 degrees on the Richter scale recorded in Iran but said that "what the population felt in the north of the emirate had nothing to do with this tremor".
The UAE sits on the Arabian tectonic plate but its border with the Eurasian plate, which strikes through the Gulf of Oman, makes the country susceptible to tremors.
The Arabian plate is moving northwards at about 3cm per year — approximately the rate at which human fingernails grow - and is bumping into the Eurasian plate, which covers a vast swathe of Europe and Asia. Where they collide, the Zagros Mountains have been formed and instability results.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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What the law says
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Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
