Buildings in the UAE are earthquake safe

Exaggerated fear of earthquakes in the UAE is entirely groundless and unjustified, according to an expert who has said that the UAE and the Gulf region are not included in the isoseismic line of any high magnitude earthquakes.

Professor Mufid Al Samarai, Senior Advisor at the Sharjah Research Academy said they are constantly striving to strengthen building safety measures in anticipation of any emergency. “Precautions taken in designing multi-storey buildings are adequate and appropriate,” he said while presenting papers “Design Precautions and Repair of Structures Subjected to Earthquakes and External Forces” and “Safety Precautions in the Restoration of the Affected Construction” during the 12th International Operations and Maintenance Conference in the Arab Countries held in Dubai recently.

The two papers presented by Professor Samerai showed that earthquakes affect horizontal forces and not vertical forces and that buildings which have solid foundations and structure are immune to the dangers of earthquakes, according to research. He added that the parties concerned in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have further enhanced this aspect by stipulating safety measures and criteria that help protect buildings from hazards, save precious lives and property from calamities and safeguard the reputation of the national economy, saying that the move has been highly successful during the last few years. The academy signed a partnership agreement with the Arab Institute of Operations and Maintenance (OMAINTEC) on the sidelines of the conference.

Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Fawzan, Chairman of OMAINTEC, mentioned that signing the agreement was part of its efforts to build bridges of communication between public and private sectors and comes in recognition of the Sharjah Research Academy’s support to research projects related to maintaining and operating buildings and bridges. —news@khaleejtimes.com