A container ship anchored at Dubai's Jebel Ali Port, the Middle East's largest transshipment hub, caught fire, the government's Dubai Media Office (DMO) reported, causing an explosion that sent tremors across the commercial hub of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The explosion was a "normal accident" in a container holding flammable material, DMO Director General Mona Al Marri told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television channel.

According to Dubai's state-run media office, the fire was brought under control thanks to a team of firefighters, not recording deaths or injuries.

Witnesses in residential areas between 15 km and 22 km from Jebel Ali had heard the blast and reported shaking buildings across the city.

DP World, which owns Jebel Ali Port, had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

The port is capable of handling aircraft carriers and was the U.S. Navy's busiest port of call outside of the United States in 2017, according to the U.S.' Congressional Research Service.

Jebel Ali port handled 13.5 million shipping containers in 2020, down 4.4% year-on-year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.