Travel Guide Empty Quarter

"Empty Quarter" is the English translation of Rub' Al-Khali, the name given to the most hostile desert in the world. It is aptly named as there is nothing but sand dunes as far as the eye can see. It is one of the last paradises for adventurers seeking to surpass themselves. It is forbidden to enter this desert by yourself. On the other hand, some specialized agencies propose excursions from a few days to several weeks. These are real expeditions that require careful preparation, whether they are undertaken by 4x4 or on foot. In summer, temperatures can easily exceed 55°C and in winter the nights are so cold that it can freeze. The dunes can reach 250 meters high, their ridges moving with the wind. The changing colors depending on the light, the blond, red or orange sands offer a spectacle of beauty. The Rub' al-Khali was not always so deserted. There were animals, vegetation and lakes, the last of which dried up 800 years ago. Ancient tools have been found near these lakes, testifying if not to a permanent occupation, at least to the passage of nomadic tribes or to a semi-sedentarization. The edges of the desert are inhabited by some Bedouin tribes who will be able to make you discover their desert. The Rub' al-Khali is also the most important oil reserve in the world, which the Saudi government has for the moment forbidden to touch.