What to see in the Rub 'al Khali desert

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Day 7: What to see in the Rub 'al Khali desert

A list of places to see in the Rub 'al Khali desert is what makes us wake up today with a big smile and it is that after a long time, we will finally be able to know what they say, it is the largest sand desert in the world.
After the flight to Dubai, the route through Dubai on a day during which we climbed to the impressive Burj Khalifa, the tour through Dubai in two days, which took us to the areas of the ancient city, the Dubai in 3 days, which approached us to the desert, one of the best tours and excursions in Dubai, and the last day in the city, during which we made the route we talked about in Dubai in 4 days, it was time to change the city and go from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, where we spent a day making an impressive route through Abu Dhabi in one day to continue with the trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Rub 'al Khali in 9 days heading to one of the most impressive places in the world.


It's 8 in the morning when we leave the Eclipse Boutique Suites our accommodation in Abu Dhabi tonight, to have breakfast at a cafe near the hotel for when it's 9, pick up our rental car from the parking lot and make our way to the Rub 'al Khali desert or Empty Quarter.

Until there they do not separate 237 kilometers and about two and a half hours of journey, which we travel largely through the desert, surrounded by arid landscapes that remind us at times the excursion to the Dubai desert that we did the other day and that allowed us to know one of the places to see in Dubai essential.

How to go from Abu Dhabi to the Rub 'al Khali desert or Empty Quarter

Although it depends on the point you are going to Rub al-Jali, in general lines from Abu Dhabi it will take an average of 2: 30h of journey and you will have to travel about 230 kilometers. For this, the best option is to have a rental car, since at least as far as we know, there are no organized excursions or public transport that reaches this point in the country.
In addition to this, it is interesting to have a car to be able to make some intermediate stops and thus enjoy all the places to see in the Rub 'al Khali desert.

Desert road Rub 'al Khali

We leave you some tips to perform the route from Abu Dhabi to Rub al Jali:

  • Remember that although there are gas stations along the way, it is interesting to load the fuel tank in Abu Dhabi, to avoid any setback. So you can get an idea of ​​the prices, we pay in this area 60AED to fill half a tank (about 30 liters).
  • If you are going to stay at the Anantara Qasr at the Sarab Desert Resort and also want to visit the Liwa Oasis area, the Moreeb Dune and some of the desert forts, we recommend you get the idea from Abu Dhabi on the E45 road and back on the E65, which is much more direct. This way you can also see the two roads.
  • Keep in mind that in this area it is very common to move to the slower trucks or vehicles even if there is a continuous line. In case you are going to overtake, do it very carefully and if you get ahead of yourself, get on the side of the road to facilitate overtaking as much as possible.
  • The first part of the road runs through desert, but it is practically all fenced, as it is private property. From Liwa to Moreeb Dune is when these fences disappear and you will find the most impressive landscapes of the Rub 'al Khali desert.
  • Although the roads are well indicated, it is highly recommended to take Google Maps or Maps.me to guide you and also locate the desert castles, since in this last application they are all marked.
  • In case of making any stop on the road to take photos, look well before doing so and especially mark the maneuver and always try that the car does not disturb the rest of the traffic.

Rub 'al Khali Desert

Desert Rub 'al Khali or Empty Quarter

Known for being one of the largest sand deserts in the world, Rub 'al Khali is also one of the most inhospitable areas in the world and one of the most uninhabited in addition to being one of the richest places in oil, with its center in Shaybah in Saudi Arabia.
With 650000 km2 this desert of the United Arab Emirates, it shares land with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen and reaches a temperature of 55 degrees in the hottest months of the year, its average temperature being 35 degrees the rest of the year.

Empty quarter

Liwa Oasis

Located 250 kilometers from Abu Dhabi and 350 from Dubai, the Liwa Oasis is located very close to the border with Saudi Arabia in the northwest area of ​​the Rub 'al Khali Desert or Empty Quarter, which, as we discussed earlier, is considered the desert largest sand in the world.
In the beginning, before the discovery of oil, the Bedouins who inhabited the area, began to draw water from the land to grow dates, something they got and so they began to emerge multiple small villages splashing the desert.
Despite this and time passed, some of them moved to Abu Dhabi to engage in pearl trade, one of the main sources of income in the area, but some Bedouins continued in Liwa, where they built some forts, which can be built see today restored, for defensive purposes.

Liwa Oasis

What to see in the Rub 'al Khali Desert

Although initially it may seem that there are not many places to see in the Rub 'al Khali Desert, on the way to Anantara Qasr to the Sarab Desert Resort or to any of the other accommodations in the area, we recommend you make several stops to complete your visit to one of the most impressive places in the world.

Desert Strengths

Once you arrive in Liwa, we advise you not to miss a visit to one of the desert fortresses that dot this desert area. Admission is free and they do not usually receive visits, something that we assure you, makes the experience much more intense and unforgettable. To locate them we recommend using the Maps.me application where you will see them marked as "powerful".
Although they are all different, if you don't have much time, you see 2-3 will be enough to get an idea of ​​what these strengths were like.

Desert Strengths

Dune Moreeb

Known for being one of the largest dunes in the world, the Moreeb or Tal Mireb dune, has dimensions that leave you speechless: 300 meters high, 1600 meters long and a total inclination of more than 50 degrees.
Currently you can reach its base through a road that the government has built and if you dare, ascend on foot and thus, enjoy the incredible views of the surroundings.
Although we found it an interesting place, see the theme park that has been created around, in which camel races and even falcons are held in addition to festivals, it caused us some disappointment.
Remember that this activity area is only open from November and during the winter months, due to the high temperatures in the area.

Dune Moreeb

Driving on the road, one of the things to do in Rub al-Jali

As we mentioned at the beginning of the post, one of the best things to do in the Rub 'al Khali Desert It is driving on the road that leads from Liwa to the Moreeb dune. This road can be crossed perfectly with a tourism, although sometimes there are sections of the road covered with sand.
It is here where you can feel the vastness of the desert by feeling surrounded by incredible dunes that seem not to end on the farthest horizon.

Rub al-Jali road

Although there is not much traffic, it is worth going carefully and if you stop on one of the sections of the road, something that we are safe, you will want to do on more than one occasion, do it responsibly and carefully.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you want to climb one of the dunes, it is very important not to go beyond where you can see the car. Although it may seem silly, it is very easy to get disoriented and we do not even want to imagine what that can mean in a place like Rub 'al Khali.

Sunset in the desert

If you do not stay at the Anantara Qasr at the Sarab Desert Resort, where you can see the sunset in the desert that surrounds it, another thing to do in Empty Quarter is to climb a dune and enjoy the sunset, one of the Most magical moments of the day that we are sure will be the perfect icing on any trip to the United Arab Emirates.

Sunset in the desert

Desert activities

In addition to everything discussed above, if you want to take a walk in the desert, go on a 4 × 4 safari or sandboarding, you can talk to the hotel to organize any of these activities, as these are very common.

Where to sleep

There are not many accommodation options in the Liwa Oasis in Rub al-Jali, so if your trip is in high season, it is highly recommended to book in time to not run out of seats.

  • Liwa Hotel: this is the most economical option and although it is a basic accommodation, its location near the main attractions, make it a good choice.
    Book your stay at Liwa Hotel here
  • Tilal Liwa Hotel: this is more modern than the previous one, although its location more than 60 kilometers from the area where the places to see in Rub 'al Khali, make it the worst option of the three that exist in the area. Despite this, being among a sea of ​​dunes, it is an enviable option, which will give you unique views of the desert.
    Book your stay at Tilal Liwa Hotel here
  • Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort: according to our experience this is one of the best hotels in the world. With an impressive architecture, impeccable service and a scandal location, if you can afford to pay the 400 euros on average the room counts, this is the perfect place to sleep in Rub 'al Khali.
    Book your stay at Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort here

Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort

In our case, the route from Abu Dhabi to Rub 'al Khali, the visit to 3 desert fortresses, approaching the Moreeb Dune and making dozens of stops on the road to take photos, has taken us half a day, arriving at the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort at 3 in the afternoon, perfect time to do Check in and be able to eat in one of its restaurants, for the rest of the afternoon enjoy the resort and live a magical sunset from one of the dunes of the enclosure.

Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort

Located in the middle of kilometers and kilometers of dunes, this is one of the most impressive resorts in the world. To get there you must travel a private road for 13 kilometers, which runs through infarct landscapes, which only provide for the story you approach as you go through dunes of impossible colors.

The construction of the hotel began in 2007 and ended a year later with 154 rooms, 52 villas, 2 restaurants and a pool in the middle of the desert that together looks like a mirage.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort

In addition to its impressive architecture, for which it is more than advisable to walk and get lost in the endless exterior corridors, most of them covered to quell the daytime heat, the hotel has a very special atmosphere when the sun goes down and the hundreds light up of lanterns flanking the corridors and the entrance.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort

Something very curious is to see how at times, especially when sandstorms take place, several machines move the sand and clean the most open areas, while the pools and villas are cleaned manually, leaving them impeccable every day. And we can not forget that the Qasr Al Sarab, despite being designed to minimize the effects of sandstorms, is located and surrounded by desert and here, this is the one in charge.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort

In addition to all this, we can say that the treatment is incredibly professional, friendly and impeccable, leaving nothing to chance. Even, at the time of check out, you will find yourself in less than 5 minutes and without realizing your car at the door of the hotel, your luggage in the trunk and several bottles of water, so that your 2-hour trip traveling again The desert, be nice.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort, one of the places to see in the Rub'Al Khali Desert

Although we recommend you spend one or two nights enjoying the hotel and the landscape, keep in mind that the hotel organizes activities such as desert walks, sandboarding, early morning bike rides, 4 × 4 dune excursions and even dinner at Starlight

Sunset at the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort

As you can see, the experience is totally recommended and we can only emphasize that if you can afford it, enjoy a night here and the whim is the icing on the cake of this incredible trip.
Book your stay at Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort here

Day 8-9: Best photos of Dubai and Abu Dhabi - Flight Barcelona

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