The dunes
Among the world's tallest.
Ointerone — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Xiaotong Gao — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Xiaotong Gao — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Riaksharma — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Xiaotong Gao — CC BY-SA 3.0
Liwa Oasis is a large group of oases in the Al Dhafra region of western Abu Dhabi, on the northern edge of the Rub' al Khali, the Empty Quarter, about 160 km southwest of the city of Abu Dhabi in a straight line. It is the southernmost inhabited area of the UAE. The oasis stretches about 100 km from east to west in an arc and takes in some 50 villages. Its centre is Mezairaa, where the road from Abu Dhabi arrives and then branches east and west; Mahdar Bin Usayyan at the eastern end is the southernmost village in the Emirates. Its people long lived from date-palm farming and camel herding. Green date groves press against towering orange dunes, among the highest in the world, so the farms look like green islands in a sea of sand. At Mezairaa a restored mud-brick fort with crenellated towers stands among the palms and is lit up at night. Visitors come to Liwa for the dunes, desert driving and nights in desert camps or hotels. The Liwa Date Festival is held in summer, and the Moreeb Dune festival in winter. The best time to visit is November to March, when the weather is mild.
Among the world's tallest.
Lit at night.
Green islands.
Liwa, Al Dhafra Region, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE
November to March.
In desert camps or hotels.