Physical Geography of the United Arab Emirates

The UAE packs remarkable geographic diversity into a small area.

Mountains

• Hajar Mountains: Run along the east coast (Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah). Jebel Jais (1,934 m / 6,345 ft) is the UAE's highest peak.
• Western Hajar: Extend along the Oman border, peaks >1,500 m.

Coastal Plains

Low, flat strips along the Arabian Gulf (west) and Gulf of Oman (east). White-sand beaches, sabkhas (salt flats), and mangrove fringes.

Deserts

• Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter): Vast sand sea covering much of the south (Abu Dhabi emirate). Mega-dunes, extreme aridity.
• Al Dhafra / Abu Dhabi Desert: Western region, gravel plains and dunes.

Oases

Fed by fossil aquifers: Al Ain (Buraimi), Liwa, Al Dhaid. Date palms, agriculture, historic settlements.

Mangroves

Avicennia marina stands along sheltered lagoons, notably Al Wathba Wetland Reserve (Abu Dhabi) and Eastern Mangroves (Abu Dhabi city). Critical nurseries for fish, bird habitat.

Marine Borders

The UAE fronts three water bodies: Arabian (Persian) Gulf (west/north), Gulf of Oman (east), and the Strait of Hormuz (strategic chokepoint).