5 Historical Deserts in Saudi Arabia You Must See - The Most Interesting Places
Saudi Arabia is famous worldwide for its extensive and marvellous deserts. These deserts are not barren lands of sand; they have tales to tell, histories worth understanding and some of the most beautiful scenery.
Here are five historical deserts in Saudi Arabia you must see:
1. The Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter)
The world’s largest sand desert is The Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter). It starts from Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, and Yemen.
Historical Significance
The Empty Quarter is profiled with history and folklore. Still, in the ancient period, it served as a track for caravans that exchanged products and yarns in the Arabian region. This desert also contains the mysterious city of Ubar, also known as the “Atlantis of the Sands. ” Ubar is a city reputed to have been buried under the sand after disaster struck, leaving behind mere myths about its riches.
Attractions
Liwa Oasis: Liwa Oasis is a green piece of land in a sea of sand known as the Empty Quarter. The site gives vacationers an opportunity to experience the life of the ancient Bedouin people. It has palm trees, historical structures like forts, and a water supply that contrasts it with other parts of the desert.
Dune Bashing: Elites of desert wildlife include Dune Bashing, which is most suitable for the Empty Quarter, characterised by high dunes. This fascinating activity involves off-road 4x4 driving through the sand hummocks, which is quite an exciting way of feeling the vastness of the desert.
Stargazing: This area is also called the Empty Quarter. It is, in fact, one of the places with the cleanest and darkest sky in the World, which is excellent for astronomy. No light pollution is present, which makes the stars very visible, and depending on the month, one can expect a great view of the heavens above. This makes it possible for astronomers and those wishing to catch a glimpse of the stars to view the celestial bodies.
In a greater sense, the Rub’ al Khali is much more than a desert; it is a region of history, discovery, and environmental splendour. Depending on whether one is walking around the oasis, flying over the dunes or lying down under the stars, it is the experience of a lifetime in the Empty Quarter. Even if you are Muslim, you can perform Umrah, get an Umrah Package with custom options to take God’s Blessings and visit these historical deserts.
2. The Nafud Desert
The Nafud Desert, or the Great Nafud, is one of the largest deserts in Saudi Arabia. It is in the northern region and occupies an approximate area of about 65,000 square kilometres.
Historical Significance
This strategic passage and barrier revolves around the Nafud, which has been critical in trade and migration activities. Among the well-known national archaeological attractions is the Al-Jawf region, associated with ancient inscriptions and petroglyphs.
Attractions
Al-Jawf Region: Tourism is focused on early humans and civilization. Visitors can find carved images and /or writing on the rocks.
Sandboarding: Big sandy hills on this beach are great for sandboarding for those who’d like to try it.
Desert Camping: Getting a chance to sleep in the middle of the desert and experience it the Bedouin way is, in fact, an option.
3. Ad-Dibdibah Plain
Ad-Dibdibah Plain is located in the North Eastern of Saudi Arabia towards the border with Kuwait. The amorphous plain is apparently large, stretching about 30,000 kilometres in size, thus it is recognised as one of the prominent geographical formations in the area.
Historical Significance
Ad-Dibdibah Plain is historically relevant because of the closeness to old shipping lanes. These routes ran across the Arabian Peninsula and connected this region to Mesopotamia making it possible to exchange goods, culture and ideas between the civilizations. Due to its central position, it became an essential node in the arrangement of trade and economic relations in the area for thousands of years.
Terrain and Vegetation
The geographical feature of the Ad-Dibdibah Plain is largely flat and the type soil is mainly gravel. Here, vegetation cover is limited and most of the plants which are found here are typically suited to conditions of the region. Still, one must learn that the plain found here supports its own distinct trophic chain which speaks for the tenacity of the desert environment.
Archaeological Remnants
According to the sites in the area, Ad-Dibdibah Plain has a lot of history to explore. The plain area is dotted with the remains of trading posts and caravanserais from that post-ancient period. These structures appeared as vital stops for the caravans on the trade routes, emphasising the plain’s function as the trading hub of ancient times.
4. Asir Desert
The Asir Desert is situated in Saudi Arabia's extreme southwestern region near the Asir highlands. It is an exception from all other deserts in the country because it is relatively higher and slightly colder.
The Asir Desert is comparatively less desert and contains plants like shrubs and grasses. Due to the closeness to the mountains one can get both desert and mountain features, thus giving Saudi Arabia’s desert areas a unique character.
5. The Ad-Dahna Desert
Ad-Dahna Desert is among the longest and narrowest deserts in eastern Saudi Arabia. It has hundreds and thousands of red dunes that stretch over a distance of more than 1300 km. Here is a tip for you: if you want to enjoy these deserts, then nothing could be better than December for you.
Perfect weather lets you go anywhere without worrying about the sun’s heat. Muslims can simply acquire December Umrah Packages from any professional travel agency to get double benefits from this journey. They can customise their travel packages to visit their desired places along with Umrah.
Historical Significance
Ad-Dahna was one of the significant major components of the old trade networks of the Arabian Peninsula with other areas. It also has interesting geological formations and a historical background.
Attractions
Qaryat al-Faw: Take a tour of Karryate Al Faw, endowed with archaeological importance and various ruins.
Desert Safaris: Climb the dunes and feel the thrill of the desert, where you can go for desert safaris.
Cultural Tours: Discover the traditions of the Bedouin tribes, which have been living in this desert for a long time.
Conclusion
Thus, Saudi Arabian deserts are large sand areas and hold history, cultural values and astounding views. The Empty Quarter seems to defy any man-made interference with the red desert in Ad-Dahna; one will come across different deserts with different experiences. Regardless of whether you are an adventurer, a historian, or a nature lover, these deserts have something that will interest you. Saudi Arabia's historical deserts. Get a map, set the destination, and off you search for the historical deserts of Saudi Arabia.
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