Desert is one of the most prominent geographical features of Saudi Arabia. In fact, the major part of the country is covered by deserts. These hold a lot of significance in geography, history, and culture. And this is not all! Deserts also impact the climate conditions of KSA. Additionally, they are home to several tribes. This blog covers everything you should know about the importance of deserts in Saudi Arabia. So, let’s go…
Which are the Major Deserts in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia comprises three main deserts. All these play a significant role in the geography, climate, and culture of the kingdom. These include:
- Ar-Rub’ al-Khali
- Al-Nufud
- Al-Dahna
Apart from this, you should know that there are several other notable deserts too. All these contribute to the unique qualities of the land of Saudi Arabia. Moreover, they don’t merely add to the cultural importance or geography. In fact, they also add to the beauty of the kingdom.
“33% of Saudi Arabia is desert with sand covering around 635,000 km out of its total 2 million km area.” – Saudipedia
Let’s talk about these in detail. After all, these are the most wondrous features of the kingdom. Here is all you should know about Saudi Arabia’s deserts and their importance. Whether you are a tourist, pilgrim, or citizen, this guide is surely going to help you refine your knowledge about the kingdom.
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Major Desert Regions of Saudi Arabia |
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Desert Region |
Area |
Key Features |
Location |
| Rub’ al-Khali | 650,000 sq km | The largest continuous sand desert in the world; features vast dunes, salt flats, and extreme temperatures; home to unique desert wildlife and ancient archaeological sites. | Southern Saudi Arabia |
| Al-Nafud | 65000 km | Known for its striking red sand dunes, seasonal lakes, and unique flora; features a variety of wildlife and is a popular site for desert activities. | Northern Saudi Arabia |
| Al-Dahna | 45000 km | Characterized by long sand ridges and plains; it connects Al-Nafud and Rub’ al-Khali. It’s known for its unique geological formations and diverse wildlife. | Central Saudi Arabia |
Ar-Rub’ al-Khali
Ar-Rub’ al-Khali or Empty Quarter, is the largest continuous sand desert in the world. The magnificent desert covers around 650,000 square kilometers across the southern Arabian Peninsula. You should know that it features towering sand dunes with some of them reaching the height of 250 metres. Besides, the desert is known for its striking reddish-orange sand, which is rich in feldspar. The Empty Quarter is a part of the larger Arabian Desert and covers areas of the following countries.
- Saudi Arabia
- Oman
- UAE
- Yemen
Moreover, most of the desert parts of KSA are rub’ al-khali. In fact, it constitutes around 67.7% of the total desert area of the Kingdom. You should know that this percentage covers three major provinces including the Eastern Province, Najran, and Riyadh.
“Rub al-Khali covers around 430,000 km of Saudi Arabia’s total land.” – Saudipedia
Anyway, this desert is a natural and geological wonder. One of their most notable features is its ancient salt flats and remnants of former lakes that once supported diverse flora and fauna. Also, it has rich reservoirs of oil. Now, let’s talk about its climate. The region is marked as hyper arid with extreme weather conditions and an average rainfall of less than 50 millimetres. This is why a major part of the desert is inhabitable.
Al-Nufud Desert
Al-Nafud is another significant desert region of Saudi Arabia as well as the Arabian Peninsula. It is located in the northern region of the kingdom and covers around 10.5% of the total area. Moreover, it is also known as the “Sand Sea” due to its vast expanse of red sands. Al-Nafud is also a part of the larger Arabian desert. Besides, it has an average elevation of 3000 feet. The desert has a basin-like structure. Besides, it is characterized by brick reddish sand as well as large crescent shaped dunes. Coming back to the area, it covers three major provinces of the kingdom: Hail, al-Jawf, and Tabuk.
“Al-Nufud spreads around 65,000sq km in area.” – Saudipedia
Let’s talk about the climate and temperature conditions now. you should know that Al-Nufud experiences violent winds quite frequently and rains at least twice a year. Here, you can find Oasis growing dates, vegetables, fruits and barley, etc. Besides, the temperature of this desert usually stays above 30 degree Celsius during summer. And the average winter temperature is around 10 degree Celsius (this can even fall to a zero).
Did You Know?
Al-Nufud is home to various archeological sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jubbah.
Al-Dahna
Also known as small A-Nafud, Al-Dahna is the third largest desert in Saudi Arabia. Talking about its location, it’s in the central part of the country. Besides, it stretches southward from the northeastern edge of the Al-Nafud desert to the northwestern borders of the Rub’ al-Khali desert (the Empty Quarter). It features 7 major sand ridges separated by plains. Furthermore, the desert covers around 800 miles (1300 km) in length and 30 miles in width. You should also know that Al-Dahna stretches over a total area of 45000 km around. Furthermore, it covers several cities of KSA and five important provinces, including The Northern Borders, Hail, Qassim, Eastern Province, and Riyadh.
“Al-Dahna covers around 7.1% of the total desert area of Saudi Arabia.” – Saudipedia
The desert is easily accessible by road. Besides, it has several highways connecting Kuwait with Al-Zilfī and Riyadh, and Riyadh with Hasa. Apart from this, the desert has many species reserves for tourist attraction. These include the Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Royal Reserve southwest of al-Dahna and the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve (which features green gardens covered by trees, shrubs, and weeds). Moreover, the weather is extremely hot here during summers and winters are mild.
Other Notable Desert Areas in Saudi Arabia
Rub al-khali, Al-Nafud, and al-Dahna are not the only deserts in Saudi Arabia. In fact, there are several other desert regions contributing to the unique cultural heritage and geography of the country. From al Jawf in northern Saudi Arabia to al Jafura, each desert brings different qualities, resources, and culture to the kingdom. For instance, Al-Qassim is popular for its agriculture and date production. Besides, Al-Ha’ir has a lot of recreational places to visit, such as parks, dams, hotels, etc. Let’s talk about all the other deserts in the kingdom and their key features.
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Different Deserts of Saudi Arabia |
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Desert Region |
Key Features |
Location |
| Al-Jawf Desert | Features rocky terrain and ancient archaeological sites | Northwestern Saudi Arabia |
| Al-Qassim Desert | Known for its unique rock formations and agricultural areas | Central Saudi Arabia |
| Al-Ha’ir Desert | Smaller desert with a mix of rocky and sandy terrain | Near Riyadh |
| Al-Jafura | Features a mix of sandy and rocky terrain; known for its unique geological formations | Eastern Saudi Arabia |
| Al-Bayda | Characterized by its rocky landscape and sparse vegetation | Central Saudi Arabia |
| Uruq Subaie | A protected area known for its diverse wildlife and unique ecosystems | Central Saudi Arabia |
| Al-Habal | Features a mix of sand dunes and rocky outcrops; less explored | Central Saudi Arabia |
| Uruq al-Wadi | Known for its seasonal water flow and unique flora and fauna | Central Saudi Arabia |
With this table, you have all the necessary knowledge of the desert regions in KSA and which of the features they are known for. If you are a tourist or a pilgrim, this will help you efficiently plan your itinerary and make the most of your trip here. And if you are a Saudi citizen, this blog helps you know your homeland better.
Does It Snow in Saudi Arabian Deserts?
The Al-Jawf region of the Saudi desert, Al-Nufud experienced its first-ever snowfall recently. This rare event left both the residents and the internet in awe. The unexpected snow in a usually sun-scorched landscape is evidence of changing weather patterns. Moreover, the extent and odd timing of the snowfall sparked curiosity among many meteorologists and climate experts.
Did You Know?
According to the Saudi National Centre of Meteorology, The event happened because of a low-pressure system over the Arabian Sea. The sea’s moist air mixed with the desert’s hot air led to thunderstorms, rain, hail, and even snow.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, Saudi Arabia is a culturally and physically rich country. It comprises many significant deserts which cover more than half of its area. The largest one is the Empty Quarter. But most of this desert is inhabitable because of its extreme weather conditions. The second largest is Al-Nufud or the Sand Sea. The desert is widely known for its agricultural production. And then there is the third largest Al-Dahna with 7 ridges separated by plain areas. Other than these three, other significant deserts include Al-Jawf, Al-Jafura, Al-Bayda, etc. Having a thorough knowledge of the deserts will help you assess the important and worthwhile places to visit when you come to the kingdom.
