What the record shows for Saudi Arabia
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 16 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 611 km of Saudi Arabia - about one every 2 years. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
No tsunamis are recorded within 611 km of Saudi Arabia in the NOAA NCEI database. A quiet record is not the same as no exposure - a large enough offshore earthquake can reach coastlines that have never been hit in the historical period.
4 volcanoes are catalogued near Saudi Arabia, including Kishb, Harrat, Khaybar, Harrat, Rahat, Harrat, Ithnayn, Harrat. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Western Saudi Arabia experiences earthquakes linked to Red Sea rifting and volcanic lava fields (harrats).
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Saudi Arabia.
Earthquake risk in Saudi Arabia - FAQ
Is Saudi Arabia at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 2 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 611 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in Saudi Arabia?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Saudi Arabia in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Saudi Arabia get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 611 km of Saudi Arabia in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Saudi Arabia?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.