Vast swathes of sand at Rub Al Khali

Home to towering dunes there are many stories of famous explorers having travelled to Rub Al Khali. One of the largest sand deserts in the world, the Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter) is teeming with wildlife, ranging from reptiles to various birds of prey and smaller mammals.

According to Oman's Ministry of Tourism, "In Al Buraimi, the wilayat of A’Sunaynah is known for its mega-dunes. Located in the Wilayat of A’Sunaynah, Ramlat Duhayth is a part of the Rub Al Khali (the Empty Quarter) known for some of the largest mega sand dunes in the world. Exploring the area is only possible by 4WD vehicle. It is recommended to go as part of a group with more than one car just in case one gets stuck in the sand.

"Located on the eastern edge of the Rub Al Khali desert, Umm Al Samim is a stretch of saltmarsh that has been seen by few. The solid-looking crust can be deceiving because beneath lies quicksand, so visitors are better off travelling with a guide.
Umm al Samim is a quicksand area on the eastern edge of the Rub al’khali desert largely within Oman’s borders. The waters, such as they are, drain into this brackish low-lying closed basin area off the Omani mountains and the wadis of the Rub al’khali. The Al Samim (known locally as the ‘Mother of Poisons’ or the ‘Mother of Worries’) is a salt marsh with a solid-looking crust but can be very treacherous when broken through. There is little vegetation."

The world’s highest sand dune is at the Dhofar Governorate at the Ramlat Jadilah deser. Ramlat Al Jadilah is situated in Al Rub Al Khali (The Empty Quarter), the largest sand desert in the world.