Rub' al Khali

Rub' al Khali, known as the Empty Quarter, is one of the largest continuous sand deserts in the world, covering parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, and Yemen. It spans roughly 650,000 square kilometers (about the size of France) and features vast, shifting sand dunes up to 250 meters high. The environment is extremely harsh, with scorching temperatures, minimal rainfall, and scarce water sources, making it a largely uninhabited and treacherous landscape. Despite its inhospitable conditions, the desert holds significant geological interest and potential for natural resources like oil and gas.