Evening quad biking in Dubai is the kind of experience that sneaks up on you.
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You set out imagining speed and sand and a burst of adrenaline, but what lingers afterward is pattern and light-the way the dunes change color with the sun, the long shadows that make the desert look like it's breathing, the hush that settles once the engine goes quiet. It is adventure wrapped in a kind of twilight calm.
The approach to the desert feels like a slow exhale. Glass and steel slip into the rearview, the city's geometry giving way to curves, then to nothing but horizon. By late afternoon the heat relaxes, a breeze picks up, and the dunes-those burnished red sweeps around Lahbab or the wide seas of Al Qudra-start catching the day's last fire. This, more than anything, is why evening matters. In summer, it's when the temperature dips from stern to bearable; in winter, it's when a gentle chill meets the sun's last warmth. The light is forgiving and thrilling at once, carving depth into the sand so you can read the terrain better, but also painting it so beautifully that you forget to blink.
A good guide begins on the ground, not in the saddle. Helmets, goggles, gloves. A quick lesson on throttle control and body position. Dubai Desert Quad Bike Experience . The first rule is respect-respect for the machine, for the physics of sand, for the desert itself. Dunes are riddles.
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Their faces look smooth and inviting, but a crest can hide a steep drop or a soft pocket that swallows a front wheel. You learn to scan ahead, to angle diagonally across slopes rather than point straight up and hope, to feather the throttle on climbs and let gravity help on descents. The quad hums, the sand whispers, and before long your brain starts matching what your eyes see to what your hands and arms need to do.
Then the rhythm arrives.
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A dune line turns into a wave you can ride. Quad Biking Dubai Offers The rear tires fishtail, a little drama that becomes play once you understand it. Your goggles tint the world slightly, but the sky beyond them is uncompromisingly clear. Tracks from beetles stitch the surface; sometimes you'll see the delicate signature of a lizard or the faint imprint of an oryx far off. A solitary ghaf tree holds the horizon with quiet authority. The desert is never empty; it's just precise.
Evening is also the desert's most cinematic hour. Cobra Quad Bike Dubai The sun slides and the dunes blush from ochre to rose to a deep, improbable ember. Photographers love it because the light wraps rather than strikes, and every ridge becomes a contour map of shadow. Riders love it because the cooling air makes the engine feel more alive and the sand slightly firmer. If you pause on a high shoulder to catch your breath, the city seems like a rumor. The silence is not absence but a presence of its own-your heartbeat, the ticking of metal cooling, a faint rustle as grains of sand settle back into place.
Many tours pair the ride with elements of desert hospitality. After the engines are switched off, the evening opens into taste and scent: Arabic coffee poured from a dallah, the sweetness of dates, the smoky ribbon of a barbecue drifting across the camp. You might try sandboarding down a gentler dune, or settle onto cushions under a canopy and watch as the first stars weather through the wash of city light. On some nights there are henna designs and oud melodies; on others, the pleasure is in the simple luxury of being still. The contrast is part of the spell-modern Dubai just over your shoulder, and a tradition of welcome that has withstood centuries right in front of you.
Practicalities matter, and they make the experience better. Wear closed shoes and light, breathable clothing; bring a light layer in winter, because desert evenings can surprise you with a sudden nip. A scarf can keep the sand off your neck, and goggles are kinder to eyes than sunglasses once the riding starts. Hydrate well beforehand and during breaks. Choose an operator who insists on safety briefings, provides proper gear, and keeps group sizes sensible so you're riding, not queuing. Skill levels vary; novices are often given flatter terrain and shorter loops, while more experienced riders can push into taller dunes in structured stages. If you're traveling with children, check age and passenger policies in advance.
The desert asks for care, too. Stay within designated riding areas to protect fragile plants and unseen creatures that live just beneath the surface. Don't chase wildlife. Pack out everything you brought in. Quads leave marks; the wind will erase them, but not always as quickly as we hope. Responsible riding turns a thrill into a memory you can be proud of.
There is a temptation, afterward, to speak in superlatives. Fastest, tallest, most exhilarating. Dubai invites that kind of language. But the essence of evening quad biking here is subtler. It's the way the machine becomes an instrument for exploring a place that is both ancient and immediate. It's the alchemy of light on sand and the small, repeated choices-throttle now, ease now, lean now-that pull you into the present tense. Quad Biking Dubai Instructions It's the final pause on a dune's shoulder as violet slips into indigo and the first coolness of night lays a hand on your forearm.
By the time you head back toward the city, your tracks are already softening behind you. The desert keeps what it wants and gives back the rest. If you're lucky, it gives you a new way to see: a clearer horizon, a steadier breath, and the knowledge that speed and stillness can coexist, and do, every evening, just beyond the skyline.
Dubai Marina (Arabic: مرسى دبي), also known as Marsa Dubai, is a district in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is built around an artificially constructed canal along a 3-kilometre (2 mi) stretch of the Persian Gulf shoreline. In 2024 it had a population of 70,550.[2][3]
The district can accommodate over 120,000 people,[4] and is located on Interchange 5 between Jebel Ali Port and the area which hosts Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and the American University in Dubai. The Dubai Marina was inspired by the Concord Pacific Place development along False Creek in Vancouver, Canada.[5] There have been many instances of marine wildlife, especially whales and sharks, entering the marina because of its proximity to the open sea.[6]
Development
[edit]
An aerial view of Dubai Marina towers, with Jumeirah Lake towers in the background
To create the marina, the developers brought the waters of the Persian Gulf into the site of the Dubai marina, creating a new waterfront. There is a large central waterway excavated from the desert and running the length of the 3-kilometre (1.9 mi) site.[4] More than 12% of the total land area on the site has been given over to this central public space.[4] Although much of this area is occupied by the marina water surface, it also includes almost 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) of landscaped public walkways.[4]
The marina is entirely human-made and has been developed by the real estate development firm Emaar Properties of the United Arab Emirates and designed by HOK Canada.[4] There is a publicly accessible foreshore-way around the marina and some sections of public ocean way along the beach with views to Palm Jumeirah. Its largest development is the Jumeirah Beach Residence. In October 2013, Dubai Marina opened its first mosque, Masjid Al Rahim, which is situated at the southern end of the Marina; its second mosque, Mohammed Bin Ahmed Almulla Mosque, opened in December 2016.[citation needed][7]
Phase I
[edit]
The first phase of Dubai Marina covers 10 hectares (25 acres), which includes six freehold apartment buildings called the Dubai Marina towers. Phase I of Dubai Marina cost more than AED 1.2 billion.[4] Three of the towers are named after precious stones: Al Mass, Fairooz, and Murjan; the other three are named after Arabic scents: Mesk, Anbar, and Al Yass. The scheme was designed by HOK and the contractors were Al-Futtaim Carillion and Nasah Multiplex.[4]
Phase II
[edit]
Phase II of Dubai Marina consists of high rise buildings which are mainly clustered into a block, known as Tallest Block in the world,[8] with the majority of the skyscrapers ranging between 250 metres (820 ft) to 300 metres (984 ft) in height. This includes Cayan Tower,[9] Ocean Heights,[10] Marina Pinnacle,[11] Sulafa Tower,[12] and Ciel Dubai Marina which rises to 366 metres (1,201 ft).
Jumeirah Beach Residence
[edit]
The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence is a 1.7-kilometre (1.1 mi) strip at the ground and plaza level of the complex, developed by Dubai Properties. Completed in 2007, since opening officially in August 2008[13] it has become a tourist attraction.[14]
Al Sahab
[edit]
Al Sahab is a residential high-rise development that consists of two towers; the complex is on the waterfront and directly overlooks the largest bay of water at Dubai Marina.[15] The buildings are in the northern end of the marina across from the Al Majara towers near the Marina Quays.[16]
Marina Quays
[edit]
Marina Quays is a complex designed by Arif & Bintoak, also responsible for the Concorde Tower. As of 2016[update], luxury penthouses in the buildings have sold for more than 10 million Dirham.[relevant?][17] In 2018, 5 million tonnes (11 billion pounds) of rock was added to create a breakwater for Marina Quays.[18]
Dubai Marina Mall
[edit]
Interior view in the mall
Dubai Marina Mall is a shopping mall located in the centre of Dubai Marina. It features 140 retail outlets, spread over 3.6 hectares (9.0 acres) of gross leasable space. Opened in December 2008, the mall is linked to the 5-star JW Marriott Hotel Marina.[19][citation needed]
Transportation
[edit]
Sobha Realty (Dubai Metro)
[edit]
Main article: Sobha Realty (Dubai Metro)
Sobha Realty
Sobha Realty (شوبا العقارية), originally called Dubai Marina, then Damac Station, is a rapid transit station on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro in Dubai. It was opened on 30 April 2010 as part of an extension to Ibn Battuta. Sobha Realty is located near Interchange 5 of Sheikh Zayed Road, around 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of downtown Dubai; to the east of the northern half of the Dubai Marina and the west of the northern portion of Jumeirah Lake Towers. The elevated station lies on a viaduct paralleling the eastern side of Sheikh Zayed Road.[20] Pedestrian access to the station is aided through walkways above Sheikh Zayed Road, connecting to developments on either side of the road. In September 2014, it was renamed to Damac Station.[21] The station's name was changed back to Dubai Marina in November 2020,[22] before it was renamed to Sobha Realty on August 9, 2021.[23]
Dubai Tram
[edit]
Main article: Dubai Tram
Al Sufouh Tram operates in Al Sufouh, Dubai Marina, running 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) along Al Sufouh Road from Dubai Marina to the Burj Al Arab and the Mall of the Emirates. It interchanges with two stations of Dubai Metro's Red Line. The Sufouh Tram also connects with the Palm Monorail at the entrance of the Palm from Sufouh Road. Since completing in 2014, it has served the residences of Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach.[24]
Attractions
[edit]
A zipline was installed which links Dubai Marina with the Dubai Marina Mall.[25] The take-off platform is located at the top of a Amwaj Tower and is 170 metres (560 ft) above ground level. It has a top speed of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph). XLine is a two-row ride where two people can ride side by side at the same time.[26] There can only be one adult per row. XLine is located in the Dubai Marina Mall on level P. Another attraction is the Dubai Marina Walk, situated along the shoreline. The Dubai Marina Mall is a shopping and entertainment centre. In addition, Dubai Marina has a 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) long marina that is serviced by the Dubai Marina Yacht Club for yacht and dhow tours.[27][28] Another major attraction in Dubai Marina is Skydive Dubai,[29] which is arranged to give skydivers a bird's-eye view of Palm Jumeirah.[30][31]
Education
[edit]
Emirates International School is close to Dubai Marina.[32]
Incidents
[edit]
On 27 April 2006, a protest broke out among workers in Al Ahmadiya Contracting. During the protest, workers blocked the company's construction site at Dubai Marina and destroyed office property and documents. They also damaged eight cars and two buses and battered a site engineer. The crowd was later dispersed by the riot control wing of Dubai Police.[33]
In August 2015, people including police officers were arrested after they were caught with prostitutes and illegal alcohol on a boat in Dubai Marina.[34]
In 14 June 2025, a huge fire broke out in the 67-storey Marina Pinnacle, causing 4,000 people to flee.[35]
Gallery
[edit]
Dubai Marina panorama
The tallest block
Another view
View of Dubai Marina from the 64th floor of the Marina Torch Tower
Graffiti in Marina Promenade
View from the harbor
See also
[edit]
United Arab Emirates portal
Architecture portal
Bluewaters Island
List of tallest buildings in Dubai
List of tallest residential buildings in Dubai
References
[edit]
^
"Dubai Statistics Centre" (PDF). Dubai Statistics Centre. 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
^"UAE: Division of Dubai (Sectors and Communities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
^"Digital Dubai" (PDF). dsc.gov.ae. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
^ abcdefg"The Dubai Marina in Dubai Designed by Architects HOK Canada Inc". Design Build Network. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
^Brody, Trevor (24 December 2021) [2006]. "False Creek, Dubai". CharterClick. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
^"Whale shark spotted in Dubai Marina". GulfNews.com. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
^Khan, Mohammed N. Al. "Dubai Marina community grows with new mosque". The National. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
^"The World's Tallest Residential City Block Dubai Off-Site Program | CTBUH 2018 Conference". Retrieved 25 August 2024.
^"Beyond Infinity: World's tallest twisted tower in Dubai gets new name". Emirates 24/7. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
^"Ocean Heights". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
^"Tiger ready to hand over new Marina Pinnacle Tower to owners". Gulf News. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
^"Fire breaks out at luxury Dubai tower". Yahoo News. 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
^Published: 14:56 August 17, 2008 (17 August 2008). "The Walk opens at Jumeirah Beach Residence". GulfNews.com. Retrieved 20 January 2018.cite web: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"The Walk at JBR | Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah, Dubai | Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
^Gillett, Katy (18 October 2019). "The evolution of a city: when Dubai Marina broke ground nearly 20 years ago". The National. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^"Al Sahab Towers (Dubai Marina)". vistadubai.com. Visit Dubai. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
^"Five of the best Dubai penthouses for sale – in pictures". thenational.ae. The National. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^Sadaqat, Rohma (20 February 2018). "First look: Sharjah's Dh25 billion Waterfront City on track for 2019 completion". Galadari Printing and Publishing LLC. khaleejtimes. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^"Emaar Announces AED 1.5 billion Expansion of Dubai Mall". www.dubaichronicle.com. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
^Haq, Qazi Raza Ul (20 June 2024). "How to Go Marina Beach by Metro – Living in UAE". Living in UAE.
^"Dubai Marina station is now Damac". Lookup.ae. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
^Tesorero, Angel (17 December 2020). "Roads and Transport Authority to update Dubai Metro platforms addressing system". Gulf News. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^Abbas, Waheed (9 August 2021). "Dubai Marina Metro Station renamed Sobha Realty". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^Dubai FAQs. "Dubai Metro & Tram System - Getting Around". discover-dubai.ae. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
^"Xline Zipline Dubai - The World's Longest Urban Zipline". Visit Dubai. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
^"Frequently Asked Questions". XDubai. 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
^"Boat tours, watersports: Explore Dubai's marine activities to keep cool in summer". Khaleej Times. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^Pile, Tim (6 March 2025). "6 marinas around the world that are destinations in themselves". PostMag, by South China Morning Post. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^"Pilot fine as Skydive Dubai plane crashes off runway". Khaleej Times. 4 October 2015 [3 October 2015 – Original publication date]. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^"Why you need to check out Skydive Dubai". Time Out Abu Dhabi. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^Wilson, Chris; Neath, Amelia (21 February 2025). "8 best things to do in Dubai Marina and where to stay in 2025". The Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^"Home". Emirates International School – Meadows. Archived from the original on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2015. Conveniently located in the heart of the beautiful Meadows community within easy access of the Lakes and Dubai Marina developments [...].
^"Al Ahmadiya Contracting workers to be prosecuted for violent protest". Khaleej Times. 4 April 2015 [10 May 2006 – Original publication date]. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
^"Police officers jailed over Dubai Marina yacht sex parties". The National. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
^"Fire breaks out in Dubai Marina building; successfully extinguished". Gulf News. 14 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
External links
[edit]
Official website
Media related to Dubai Marina at Wikimedia Commons
‹ The template below (Neighborhoods in Dubai) is being considered for merging with Dubai. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. ›
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Neighbourhoods and communities in Dubai
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northwestern sector of Dubai
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north-central sector of Dubai
(Sector 4)
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Jabal Ali and the
southwestern sector of Dubai
(Sector 5)
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Saih Shuaib
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central sector of Dubai
(Sector 6)
Al Barsha South
Al Hebiah
Bu Kadra
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Me'aisem
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Ras Al Khor Industrial Area
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Warsan
Al Awir and the
northeastern sector of Dubai
(Sector 7)
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eastern sector of Dubai
(Sector 8)
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southern sector of Dubai
(Sector 9)
Al Fagaa
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About Arabian Desert
Desert located in Western Asia
This article is about the desert in the Arabian Peninsula. For the Red Sea Hills/Arabian Desert in Northeast Africa, see Eastern Desert. For the desert in Syria, Jordan and northern Saudi Arabia, see Syrian Desert.
Arabian Desert ٱلصَّحْرَاء ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة
Desert near Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Map of the Arabian Desert ecoregion
Ecology
Realm
Palearctic
Biome
deserts and xeric shrublands
Borders
List
Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert
Mesopotamian shrub desert
Middle East steppe
North Saharan steppe and woodlands
Persian Gulf desert and semi-desert
Red Sea Nubo-Sindian tropical desert and semi-desert
Tigris-Euphrates alluvial salt marsh
Geography
Area
1,855,470[1] km2 (716,400 mi2)
Countries
List
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
United Arab Emirates
Iran (khuzestan)
Yemen
Egypt (Sinai)
Conservation
Conservation status
critical/endangered[2]
Protected
4.368%[1]
The Arabian Desert (Arabic: ٱلصَّحْرَاء ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة) is a vast desert wilderness in West Asia that occupies almost the entire Arabian Peninsula with an area of 2,330,000 square kilometers (900,000 sq mi).[3] It stretches from Yemen to the Persian Gulf and Oman to Jordan and Iraq. It is the fourth largest desert in the world and the largest in Asia. At its center is Ar-Rub' al-Khali (The Empty Quarter), one of the largest continuous bodies of sand in the world. It is an extension of the Sahara Desert.[4]
Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards are just some of the desert-adapted species that survive in this extreme environment, which features everything from red dunes to deadly quicksand. The climate is mostly dry (the major part receives around 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain per year, but some very rare places receive as little as 50 mm), and temperatures oscillate between very high heat and seasonal night time freezes. It is part of the deserts and xeric shrublands biome and lie in biogeographical realms of the Palearctic (northern part) and Afrotropical (southern part).
The Arabian Desert ecoregion has little biodiversity, although a few endemic plants grow here. Many species, such as the striped hyena, jackal and honey badger, have died out as a result of hunting, habitat destruction, overgrazing by livestock, off-road driving, and human encroachment on their habitat. Other species, such as the Arabian sand gazelle, have been successfully re-introduced and are protected at reserves.
Geography
[edit]
A satellite image of the Arabian Desert by NASA World Wind
The desert lies mostly in Saudi Arabia and covers most of the country. It extends into neighboring southern Iraq, southern Jordan, central Qatar, most of the Abu Dhabi emirate in the United Arab Emirates, western Oman, and northeastern Yemen. The ecoregion also includes most of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt and the adjacent Negev desert in southern Israel.[1]
The Rub' al-Khali desert is a sedimentary basin stretching along a south-west to north-east axis across the Arabian Shelf.[5] At an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), rock landscapes yield to the Rub' al-Khali, a vast stretch of sand whose extreme southern point crosses the center of Yemen. The sand overlies gravel or gypsum plains and the dunes reach maximum heights of up to 250 m (820 ft). The sands are predominantly silicates, composed of 80 to 90% quartz and the remainder feldspar, whose iron oxide-coated grains color the sands orange, purple, and red.
A corridor of sandy terrain known as the Ad-Dahna desert connects the An-Nafud desert (65,000 km2 or 40,389 square miles) in the north of Saudi Arabia to the Rub' al-Khali in the south-east.[citation needed] The Tuwaiq escarpment is an 800 km (500 mi) arc that includes limestone cliffs, plateaus, and canyons.[citation needed] There are brackish salt flats, including the quicksands of Umm al Samim.[2] The Sharqiya Sands, formerly known as Wahiba Sands of Oman are an isolated sand sea bordering the east coast.[6][7]
Climate
[edit]
The Arabian Desert has a subtropical, hot desert climate, similar to the climate of the Sahara Desert (the world's largest hot desert). The Arabian Desert is actually an extension of the Sahara Desert over the Arabian peninsula.
The climate is mainly dry. Most areas get around 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain per year. Unlike the Sahara Desert—more than half of which is hyperarid (having rainfall of less than 50 mm (2.0 in) per year)—the Arabian Desert has only a few hyperarid areas. These rare driest areas may get only 30 to 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain per year.
The Arabian Desert’s sunshine duration index is very high by global standards: between 2,900 hours (66.2% of daylight hours) and 3,600 hours (82.1% of daylight hours), but typically around 3,400 hours (77.6% of daylight hours). Thus clear-sky conditions with plenty of sunshine prevail over the region throughout the year, and cloudy periods are infrequent. Visibility at ground level is relatively low, despite the brightness of the sun and moon, because of dust and humidity.
Temperatures remain high year round. In the summer, in low-lying areas, average high temperatures are generally over 40 °C (104 °F). In extremely low-lying areas, especially along the Persian Gulf (near sea level), summer temperatures can reach 48 °C (118 °F). Average low temperatures in summer are typically over 20 °C (68 °F) and in the south can sometimes exceed 30 °C (86 °F). Record high temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F) have been reached in many areas of the desert, partly because its overall elevation is relatively low. [citation needed]
Flora and fauna
[edit]
The Arabian Desert ecoregion has about 900 species of plants.[8] The Rub'al-Khali has very limited floristic diversity. There are only 37 plant species, 20 recorded in the main body of the sands and 17 around the outer margins. Of these 37 species, one or two are endemic. Vegetation is very diffuse but fairly evenly distributed, with some interruptions of near sterile dunes.[2] Some typical plants are Calligonum crinitum on dune slopes, Cornulaca arabica (saltbush), Salsola stocksii (saltbush), and Cyperus conglomeratus. Other widespread species are Dipterygium glaucum, Limeum arabicum, and Zygophyllum mandavillei. Very few trees are found except at the outer margin (typically Acacia ehrenbergiana and Prosopis cineraria). Other species are a woody perennial Calligonum comosum, and annual herbs such as Danthonia forskallii.[2]
There are 102 native species of mammals.[8] Native mammals include the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), sand gazelle (Gazella marica), mountain gazelle (G. gazella), Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana), Arabian wolf (Canis lupus arabs), striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena), caracal (Caracal caracal), sand cat (Felis margarita), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and Cape hare (Lepus capensis).[2] The Asiatic cheetah[9] and Asiatic lion[10] used to live in the Arabian Desert. The ecoregion is home to 310 bird species.[8]
People
[edit]
The area is home to several different cultures, languages, and peoples, with Islam as the predominant faith. The major ethnic group in the region is the Arabs, whose primary language is Arabic.
In the center of the desert lies Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with more than 7 million inhabitants.[11] Other large cities, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Kuwait City, lie on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
Natural resources
[edit]
Natural resources available in the Arabian Desert include oil, natural gas, phosphates, and sulfur.[citation needed]
Conservation and threats
[edit]
Threats to the ecoregion include overgrazing by livestock and feral camels and goats, wildlife poaching, and damage to vegetation by off-road driving.[2]
The conservation status of the desert is critical/endangered. In the UAE, the sand gazelle and Arabian oryx are threatened, and honey badgers, jackals, and striped hyaenas already extirpated.[2]
Protected areas
[edit]
4.37% of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[1]
Saudi Arabia has established a system of reserves overseen by the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD).[2]
Harrat al-Harrah Reserve (12,150 km2), established in 1987, is on the border with Jordan and Iraq, and protects a portion of the stony basaltic Harrat al-Sham desert. The reserve includes rough terrain of black basaltic boulders and extinct volcanic cones from the middle Miocene. It provides habitat to over 250 species of plants, 50 species of birds, and 22 mammal species.[2]
'Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve (12,000 km2) is on the western edge of the Rub’ al-Khali. Arabian oryx and sand gazelle were reintroduced to the reserve in 1995.
Ibex Reserve (200 km2) is south of Riyadh. It protects Nubian ibex and a reintroduced population of mountain gazelle.[2]
Al-Tabayq Special Nature Reserve is in northern Saudi Arabia, and protects a population of Nubian ibex.[2]
Protected areas in the United Arab Emirates include Al Houbara Protected Area (2492.0 km2), Al Ghadha Protected Area (1087.51 km2), Arabian Oryx Protected Area (5974.47 km2), Ramlah Protected Area (544.44 km2), and Al Beda'a Protected Area (417.0 km2).[12]
See also
[edit]
Saudi Arabia portal
ʿĀd
Iram of the Pillars
References
[edit]
^ abcd"Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands". Digital Observatory of Protected Areas. Accessed 19 December 2022. [1]
^ abcdefghijk
"Arabian Desert". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
^"Sharqiya (Wahiba) Sands, Oman - Travel Guide, Info & Bookings – Lonely Planet". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
^ abcHoekstra JM, Molnar JL, Jennings M, Revenga C, Spalding MD, Boucher TM, Robertson JC, Heibel TJ, Ellison K (2010) The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference (ed. Molnar JL). Berkeley: University of California Press.
^Harrison, D. L. (1968). "Genus Acinonyx Brookes, 1828" (PDF). The mammals of Arabia. Volume II: Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Hyracoidea. London: Ernest Benn Limited. pp. 308–313.
^Heptner, V. G.; Sludskii, A. A. (1992) [1972]. "Lion". Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola [Mammals of the Soviet Union, Volume II, Part 2]. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation. pp. 83–95. ISBN 978-90-04-08876-4.
^"هيئة تطوير مدينة الرياض توافق على طلبات مطورين لإنشاء 4 مشاريع سياحية وترفيهية" (in Arabic). April 4, 2019. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
^UNEP-WCMC (2020). Protected Area Profile for United Arab Emirates from the World Database of Protected Areas, November 2020. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arabian Desert.
"Arabian Desert". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
Arabian Desert (DOPA)
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It was an amazing experience driving through the desert with a 4x4, having a great dinner in the camp with good entertainment. And our driver Mohammed was awesome: very friendly, always pointing out interesting things to see and thankfully very skilled when driving through the dunes.
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Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
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Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
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