Rub' al Khali Desert

Rub' al Khali Desert

The Rub' al Khali Desert, meaning "The Empty Quarter," gets its name from covering about a quarter of the Arabian Peninsula, making it one of the largest deserts in the world. This desert spans the entire southern region of Saudi Arabia and most of Oman, the UAE, and Yemen, covering an area of approximately 650,000 square kilometers, which is larger than the combined area of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.

Also known as the "Arabian Great Desert," the Rub' al Khali stretches northeast to southwest, measuring 1,200 kilometers in length and about 640 kilometers in width, with a total area of 650,000 square kilometers. It often appears red due to high iron oxide content. Geographically, the desert can be divided into two main sections: eastern and western. The eastern part sits at an elevation of 100–200 meters and is dominated by parallel rows of massive sand dunes, some reaching heights of 300 meters and stretching 20 kilometers—almost like sand mountains. In areas with higher groundwater levels, there are scattered oases that form good grazing land. The western part ranges from 100 to 500 meters in elevation and is mostly gravel desert, with widespread marshes and salt lakes between the dunes.

The Rub' al Khali is the world’s largest sand sea (erg). The movement of its dunes is primarily driven by monsoon winds, and due to variations in wind direction and prevailing airflow, the desert's dunes are divided into three distinct zones: the northeastern crescent dune zone, the star dune zones along the eastern and southern edges, and the linear dune zone covering the entire western half.

Rub' al Khali

Why you must go: One of the largest deserts in the world

Continent: Asia

Country/Region: Saudi Arabia

Province/State: Riyadh, Makkah, and Asir Provinces