Al Wathba Fossil Dunes

The fossil dunes are not fossils in the usual sense: they are old dunes whose sand was cemented into rock by carbonate, and the wind has since cut away the softer parts, leaving thin arches, mushroom caps and blades of stone standing in the open sand. Some are estimated at around a hundred and fifty thousand years old. A visitor site was laid out in 2022 with paths, boardwalks and lighting so that people move between the forms without climbing on them.

What you actually see

• The wind-cut forms - arches, blades and mushroom shapes left by erosion.
• The cemented dune rock - old dune sand hardened by carbonate into stone.
• The marked paths - boardwalks and routes laid out to keep visitors off the formations.
• The evening lighting - the site lit after dark, when it is coolest.

When to go

November to March; the site is fully exposed and summer is dangerous. Sunrise, sunset and after dark are the best times. Weekend evenings are busiest.

Honest expectations

There is no shade at all and water must be carried. The formations are fragile and climbing on them is prohibited and enforced. The site is a long drive from the city with no public transport.

Nearby

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is west, and Abu Dhabi city is northwest.