Sands of the Middle East: Arabian Desert

The Arabian Desert, spanning over 2.3 million square kilometers across the Arabian Peninsula, is the fifth-largest desert globally and the largest in Asia. At its core lies the expansive Ar-Rub' al-Khali, or The Empty Quarter, a massive continuous sand body extending from Yemen to Oman. This desert ecosystem hosts a variety of adapted species such as gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards. The climate is predominantly dry, with temperatures ranging from extreme heat to seasonal night freezes. The desert faces biodiversity challenges due to factors like hunting, habitat destruction, and human encroachment. Geographically, it covers Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, the UAE, Yemen, and parts of Egypt and Israel. The region experiences a subtropical, hot desert climate similar to the Sahara. The landscape includes the Tuwaiq escarpment, the Rub' al-Khali, and the Ad-Dahna desert. The Arabian Desert's flora is limited, with about 900 plant species, while its fauna includes 102 native mammal species and 310 bird species. Inhabited by various cultures and home to major cities like Riyadh, the region holds significant natural resources, including oil, natural gas, phosphates, and sulfur. However, conservation challenges, such as overgrazing, poaching, and off-road driving, threaten its delicate ecosystem, leading to a critical or endangered conservation status.