The Empty Quarter in Saudi Arabia

The new highway between the oasis city of Al Hofuf and Ibri in northwestern Oman is saving hours of time. The new 725-kilometer road, cutting across the desert of The Empty Quarter, is an engineering marvel.

It cannot possibly have escaped your attention if you have ever seen satellite photos of the Arabian Peninsula: the huge bowl of sand stretching between the United Arab Emirates to the north and Yemen to the south, between the Hidjaz Mountains to the west and the fertile valleys of Oman to the east. Rub Al Khali or The Empty Quarter with an area of 650,000 km², is the largest sandy desert on earth and the unrelenting backdrop that makes filmmakers salivate - Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Dune were shot in the sand dunes of this desert.

This fantastic natural barrier has long hampered a direct connection between Saudi Arabia and its western neighbors. Compared to the extravagant billion-dollar projects that invariably make the news, the new highway between Saudi Arabia and Oman may seem dwarfed. Yet this road across the Rub Al Khali is indeed an engineering marvel.

With temperatures that can reach 50°C during the day and drop to freezing at night, hundreds of kilometers away from civilization and with a terrain of steep and ever-shifting sand dunes, the construction of this road was a perilous project. Time after time, construction of this lifeline was delayed for seven years until the asphalt was finally opened to traffic in December 2021.

The Empty Quarter is about the size of Germany and Italy combined. Some dunes are over 250 meters high, shaped by the wind into towering ridges and endless waves of sand. Driving through it is a test of endurance. Temperatures soar, fuel stops are scarce, and shifting sand makes it quite challenging. There is no shade to rest in, no escape from the relentless sun. But the isolation, the vastness, and the overwhelming size of this place make it a route you won't soon forget.

Hours of time saved right across the desert of the Empty Quarter

The new highway between Alkwifriah on the Persian Gulf and the city of Ibri in northwest Oman is 725 kilometers long - a drive of about eight hours. Hours of time saved compared to a 40-year-old and much longer road across the desert.

That means faster access to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea for Saudi Arabia, and faster access to the Red Sea for Oman. Along with the road, a new border post between the two countries also went into operation.

Snag under the asphalt

Read on before you now make wild plans to visit Riyadh or Al Hofuf, with three million palms one of the largest oases in the world, with a visit to Oman. In practice, the road will be especially useful for goods transport. Fresh fish from Oman to Saudi Arabia; dairy products, vegetables and fuel the other way. It will take some time before the new connection is on the map with tourists.

Residents of Saudi Arabia are allowed to cross the border into Qatar, the United Arab Emirates or Oman with a rental car, but unfortunately this does not apply to tourists at this time. What is theoretically possible is to cross the border with your own car, camper or motorcycle. The only currently safe route from Europe to Saudi Arabia is via Iran, by ferry from Bandar Abbas to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. That may be good news for the most avid overland travelers. For the average tourist, The Empty Quarter remains a sandy spot on the map for now.