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Empty Quarter
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Nation / Place

Empty Quarter

World's largest continuous sand desert, spanning Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE and Yemen.

In 1968, Saudi Aramco found the Shaybah oil field beneath the Empty Quarter, a 550,000-square-kilometre desert spanning Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE and Yemen.

Last refreshed: 22 October 2026

Key Question

Why does the Empty Quarter matter to Gulf energy infrastructure?

Timeline for Empty Quarter

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Background

The Empty Quarter, or Rub al-Khali, covers about 550,000 square kilometres across Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Roughly 430,000 square kilometres lie in Saudi Arabia. Dunes, salt flats and gravel plains dominate a region where summer temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall is often below 50 millimetres.

The desert contains oil and gas resources beneath its sparsely populated surface. Saudi Aramco discovered the Shaybah oil field there in 1968 and later built production and transport facilities in the remote basin. The Empty Quarter also shapes borders and overland routes across the southern Arabian Peninsula. Its size, climate and limited water make permanent settlement rare, while energy sites and desert crossings give the region strategic value.

Common Questions

Reference

Why is it called the Empty Quarter?
Its name reflects its few permanent settlements, sparse wildlife and limited plant cover.Source: https://saudipedia.com/en/deserts-of-saudi-arabia
How large is the Empty Quarter?
Saudipedia puts its total area at about 550,000 square kilometres, with about 430,000 square kilometres in Saudi Arabia.Source: https://saudipedia.com/en/deserts-of-saudi-arabia
Where is the Empty Quarter?
It spans parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen in the southern Arabian Peninsula.Source: https://saudipedia.com/en/deserts-of-saudi-arabia
What is the Empty Quarter?
The Empty Quarter, or Rub al-Khali, is the world's largest continuous sand desert.Source: https://saudipedia.com/en/deserts-of-saudi-arabia
Why is the Empty Quarter in the news?
The Shaybah Oilfield lies deep in the desert, where intercepted drone debris killed two workers near a processing facility on 21 October 2026.Source: https://apnews.com/article/riyadh-saudi-arabia-oil-facility-drones-01c03af3191263452376510a670e8bf7
Source Material
Attack on eastern Saudi airport and Shaybah incidentShaybah oil field and recovery plantDeserts of Saudi Arabia

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 October 2026. Editorial standards.