Liwa Oasis

Liwa is a large oasis in the southern part of Abu Dhabi emirate where about fifty small settlements sit between date plantations and high dunes. The palms grow in long rows along man-made channels that bring groundwater to the fields.

Nomadic tribes used this oasis as a stopping point for thousands of years on their journeys across the Arabian peninsula. Only in the 20th century did the temporary camps become permanent villages when wells and irrigation systems made year-round farming possible.

Residents still practice the art of date farming and falconry, two skills passed down through generations. In the villages, traditional homes with wind towers show how people lived here before air conditioning arrived.

The drive takes about an hour and a half to two hours from Abu Dhabi city along well-maintained roads through the desert. Visitors who come during the cooler months between October and March will find temperatures more comfortable for walking among the palms or exploring the dunes.

The sand in the nearby dunes has an unusual red color that comes from high iron content and glows especially bright at sunrise. Some of these dunes move several meters each year and constantly change the shape of the landscape around the oasis.

Location: Emirate of Abu Dhabi

Elevation above the sea: 196 m

GPS coordinates: 23.13333,53.78333

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:14