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The sun setting over the dunes of Liwa

Beyond Abu Dhabi · by road, south-west

Liwa & the Empty Quarter: a journey from Abu Dhabi

Tel Moreeb, Qasr Al Sarab and the dunes of the Rub’ al Khali, with the Liwa International Festival in December.

The back story

  1. The great dunes

    Liwa and the Empty Quarter

    Al Dhafra·Journey

    The dunes of the Rub’ al Khali, Tel Moreeb and Qasr Al Sarab, two to three hours south-west.

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What to see

  1. More than 300 metres

    Tel Moreeb

    Al Dhafra·Dune

    One of the world’s tallest sand dunes, more than 300 metres high, reached by a paved road.

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  2. 11 Dec 2026–2 Jan 2027

    Liwa International Festival

    Al Dhafra·Festival

    Desert motorsport, music and Emirati heritage on the dunes, 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027.

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Share your Liwa & the Empty Quarter tips

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