El-Khouri and Omoush (2015:14) identified two Abbasid occupation phases at Gadara: the first spanning 750–800 CE and the second 800–1000/1050 CE. They reported evidence of "ancient wall destruction (fallen stone layers)" beneath Abbasid strata in Squares F5 and F6, along with reuse of architectural elements and the destruction of a mosaic floor in earlier layers (El-Khouri and Omoush 2015:16–17). The dating was established on the basis of pottery.

Vriezen and Mulder (1997:323) reported that two churches at Gadara were destroyed by an earthquake, “presumably the earthquake of 749.” These churches, located on the Terrace along the western slope of the acropolis, included a centralised church tentatively dated to the early 6th century CE and a basilica dated to the mid-7th century CE. Both were erected atop earlier Roman remains and were destroyed during the mid-8th-century seismic event.

Walmsley (2007) observed that “at Jadar [Gadara], on a ridge overlooking Lake Tiberias, the columns of the main east-west decumanus were toppled by the earthquake …, permanently terminating the late-antique configuration of the town.”