Empty Quarter (Rub al Khali)

الربع الخالي

The northern desert of Dhofar opens onto the vast Empty Quarter, the largest continuous sand desert on Earth. Its towering dunes offer world-class dune driving, camping and star-filled night skies.

Things to do

• Dune Driving the Mega-Dunes — Ride 4x4s across towering sand mountains that rank among the tallest dunes on Earth, best done with an experienced local driver.
• Desert Camping Under the Stars — Spend a night at a Bedouin-style camp where the absence of light pollution reveals an extraordinary blanket of stars.
• Sunrise and Sunset Photography — Capture the shifting reds and golds of the dunes as low light sculpts dramatic shadows across the sand ridges.
• Camel Trekking — Traverse a stretch of the sands the traditional Bedouin way atop a camel guided by local herders.
• Visit Shisr (Ubar) Ruins — Explore the archaeological site linked to the legendary lost city of Ubar, a frankincense trade hub swallowed by the desert.
• Sandboarding — Slide down steep dune faces on a board for an adrenaline rush amid the silent immensity of the sands.
• Explore the Oman-Saudi Border Sands — Journey deep toward the frontier region where the desert stretches unbroken to the horizon in every direction.

Food to try

• Kabsa — A fragrant spiced rice dish cooked with tender goat or camel meat, commonly shared at desert camps.
• Grilled Camel Meat — Slow-cooked or grilled camel is a Bedouin staple prized for its rich flavor during desert gatherings.
• Omani Kahwa with Dates — Cardamom-scented coffee served in small cups alongside sweet dates is the traditional welcome offered to guests.
• Khubz (Bedouin Bread) — Flatbread often baked over open coals or hot sand in the desert camps.
• Shuwa — Meat marinated in spices and slow-cooked underground for hours, reserved for special occasions and feasts.

Local customs & good to know

• Never drive alone — Travel in a convoy with a knowledgeable guide, as the featureless dunes and soft sand make solo trips genuinely dangerous.
• Carry water and fuel — There are no services deep in the desert, so bring ample water, food, fuel and a satellite phone or GPS.
• Respect Bedouin hospitality — Accepting offered coffee and dates is a sign of respect, and dress modestly when visiting local camps.
• Avoid summer travel — Daytime temperatures can be extreme, so visit between October and March for safer, cooler conditions.

Nearby

• Ubar (Shisr) — 74 km
• Wadi Dawkah — 178 km
• Mughsail Beach & Blowholes — 199 km
• Salalah — 202 km