The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

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I NLAND L ANDFORMS D UNES & W ADIS

Ra's al- Khaimah

Umm al-Qaiwain

Qatar

Abu Dhabi’s inland landscape is dominated by sandy desert and associated landform features such as dunes, wadis, and sabkhas . These features are formed by wind action or water. Dunes are sand ridges formed by wind; wadis are seasonal watercourses that range in size from small gullies to large, deep canyons; and

sabkhas are low-lying saline flats that are subject to periodic inundation. Variations in wind conditions, vegetation cover, and sand abundance produce a wide variety of dune types, including barchanoid dunes, star dunes, transverse dunes and partially deflated transverse dunes.

Ajman

Wadi Tarabat Wadis are dry riverbeds that contain water only during periods of rainfall; wadis are noted for their gullying effects and rapid rates of erosion, sediment transport and depo- sition. They are important landscape fea- tures of the Arabian Peninsula, acting as sources of sediment transport from the highlands to the lowland desert plains and coast. Wadi Tarabat runs off of Jebel Hafit.

Dubai

Partially Deflated Transverse Dunes Dune deflation occurs when a dune’s supply of wind-driven sand is cut off. This occurred in the past when Gulf sea level rise restricted the supply of wind-driven sand to dunes near the coast. Wind erosion gradually transports the sand inland, effectively ‘deflating’ the land surface until the water table is reached. The resulting salt-covered plains created by this process are termed sabkhas .

25°N

25°N

Taweela

Shwaib

Al Faq

A r a b i a n G u l f

Samha

Mkasib

Al Hayer

Abu Dhabi

Qaffay

Shahama

Muhayyimat

Sweihan

Ghaghah

Musaffah

Bani Yas

Yahir

Al Ain

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve

Jebel Dhanna

Al-Sulaimat

Bu Samra

As Sad

Al Khatim

Remah

Al Khazna

Ghuwaifat Transverse Dunes Transverse dunes form in arid and semi- arid regions where sand is plentiful, wind directions are stable, and vegetation is scarce. Transverse dunes are wave-like dunes that have a crest which is aligned perpendicular to the wind direction. These dunes may be up to 100 kilometres long, 3 kilometres wide and 200 metres high.

Ruwais

Mirfa

Al Hamra

Sila'a

Az Zahir

Tarif

Mezyed

Houbara Protected Area

24°N

24°N

Abu Dhabi Western Region

Al Ain Abu Dhabi

Al Arad

Habshan

Ghayathi

Bid al-Mutawa

Madinat Zayed

Al Wijan

Bu Hasa

Al Bida'a

Arabian Oryx Protected Area

Barchanoid Dunes Barchan dunes typically form in arid, inland deserts with stable wind direction and relatively little sand. These crescent-shaped dunes have a gentle, convex windward slope and a steep, concave leeward slope that always have arms or ‘horns’ that point downwind. With increased sand supply, barchans unite to form barchanoid dunes. Abu Dhabi has large expanses of barchanoid dunes near Liwa, which are some of the tallest in the world; these vast ‘sand seas’ are visible from space.

Al Qua'a

Al Ramla

Towns

Shah

Wadi Jebel Hafit

Mouzaira'a

Large/Medium Towns Small Towns

Khannur

Al Delfawiyah

Administrative Boundaries

Regions

Qiesah

Liwa

23°N

23°N

Aradah

Hamim

Roads

Dual Carriageway Single Carriageway/Graded

Al Ain Western Region

Protected Areas Terrestrial Special Conservation Areas

Umm Az-Zumul

Star Dunes Star dunes are dunes that have three or four arms radiating from a higher centre, resembling a star. Star dunes occur where wind patterns are irregular and where wind directions shift frequently.

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40 Kilometres

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