Saudi Arabia’s Rub’ al-Khali desert, also known as the Empty Quarter, is one of the last untouched areas on Earth. The largest unbroken expanse of sand, it covers 250,000 sq miles and is home to the world’s largest oilfield, the Ghawwar Field.
Such is the desolation of this part of Saudi Arabia that it wasn’t fully mapped until 1965. Even today there are some parts that have only been seen from the air.
Summer temperatures in this Saudi Arabian desert shift from below 0ºC at night to over 60ºC at noon, making Rub’ al-Khali one of the most extreme places on earth.
Needless to say, no permanent settlements can be found across the desolate space, but Bedouin tribes live nomadic lives on the outskirts. Few plants or animals can survive, but remote pockets of vegetation in the form of arachnids and rodents can be found in the desert.
Renowned travel photographer George Steinmetz captured this aerial shot of star-shaped dunes near the Omani border.
To see more of Steinmetz’s images, go to georgesteinmetz.com.
British Airways flies to Jeddah and Riyadh. Book a flight on ba.com now.
Forget the well-trodden historical routes. The new way to experience Jordan is through the eyes of the local Bedouins. Find out how to join them in the desert.
