A small earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale rattled the Arabian Gulf early Friday morning, sending mild tremors through the waters east of Saudi Arabia’s coastal city of Jubail. The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) reported the quake struck at 2:36 a.m. local time, about 55 kilometers offshore, but caused no damage or injuries on land. Though it’s a rare event for the region, experts say it’s a reminder of the quiet seismic forces at work beneath the Gulf.
The tremor hit at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the SGS, which tracks quakes through its National Seismic Monitoring Network. People in Jubail, a bustling industrial hub in the Eastern Province, didn’t feel a thing—most were fast asleep, and the quake was too weak to rattle homes or wake residents. “It’s a minor event,” said Dr. Hani Zahran, SGS spokesperson. “These kinds of quakes happen from time to time in the Gulf, but they’re rarely strong enough to affect daily life.”
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey backs this up, logging the quake’s epicenter at 27.45°N, 49.85°E—well offshore. No tsunami warnings were issued, and Saudi officials quickly confirmed the mainland stayed safe and steady.
The SGS pinned the quake on natural stress along ancient faults in the Arabian Gulf, tied to the slow dance of tectonic plates. The Arabian Plate, which carries Saudi Arabia, nudges against the Eurasian Plate far to the north, where Iran often feels bigger shakes. “This is just a little hiccup from that pressure,” explained Dr. Abdullah Al-Amri, a seismologist at King Saud University. “The Gulf itself isn’t a hotbed for quakes like the Red Sea or Iran, but it’s not completely still either.”
This fits the region’s pattern. The Arabian Gulf sits on the stable interior of the Arabian Plate, far from its edgy borders. Still, small tremors pop up now and then—think of them as the earth stretching its legs after a long rest.
Saudi Arabia isn’t known for earthquakes. The western edge near the Red Sea sees more action, like the 2009 swarm in Al-Ais that hit 5.4 magnitude. In the Gulf, though? It’s quieter. The last notable shake was a 4.7-magnitude quake in January 2022, felt faintly in the UAE but harmless.
Globally, 4.0 quakes are common—about 6,200 happen yearly, says the USGS. Most don’t make headlines unless they’re near people or places that matter. This one’s claim to fame? It’s a rare Gulf guest.
The SGS reassured everyone: no aftershocks are expected, and life goes on as normal. “We’re monitoring it, but there’s no risk,” Dr. Zahran said.
Still, it’s a nudge to stay aware. The Arabian Plate’s slow push—about 2 centimeters a year—keeps geologists watching. “Big quakes here are unlikely,” Dr. Al-Amri noted, “but small ones like this keep us on our toes.”