Desert & Dunes · Eastern Province
Umm Ghar ad Dawasir
أم غار الدواسر
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Before you go
8 facts, each with its source- Time needed Half a day, or overnight Source: editor · category default
- Best season November–February Source: editor · category default
- Difficulty Moderate — soft sand and heat rather than terrain Source: editor · category default
- Family friendly Yes in the cooler months; heat is the risk, not the sand Source: editor · category default
- Facilities Nothing mapped nearby — bring water, expect no toilets Source: osm · no facility mapped within 800 m
- Drones Registration with GACA is required for any drone from 250 g, and registration alone is not permission to fly — an operational permit is also needed Source: official · national rule · General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) · checked 2026-09-05
- Dress Saudi Arabia expects modest dress in public: loose clothing covering shoulders and knees. Abaya is no longer required of visitors. Loose long sleeves, closed shoes, head cover. It turns cold after dark. Source: editor · category default
- Elevation 480 m Source: srtm · NASA SRTM 30 m model
Not confirmed for this place: 4x4 needed · Entry fee · Opening hours · Wheelchair. Know one of these? Tell us →
Safety notes
- The Empty Quarter is not a self-drive destination. Go with a licensed operator, in a convoy, with satellite communication and enough water and fuel for a much longer trip than planned.
- Elsewhere in the interior, distances between fuel stations are long enough to plan around, and mobile coverage stops well before the road does.
- Dune driving is a skill and a two-vehicle activity. A rental saloon on soft sand is a recovery call, not a drive.
Editor notes, reviewed 2026-09-04
How far is it?
- 2 h 2 mfrom Riyadh — King Khalid International (RUH) · 173 km
- 2 h 1 mfrom Riyadh · 176 km
- 3 h 13 mfrom Dammam and Al Khobar · 298 km
Road distance and driving time from OpenStreetMap routing, without traffic. Mountain tracks are often slower than the router thinks.
When to go
November–February- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
ComfortableToo hot
The deep desert is a short-winter destination and nothing else; the Empty Quarter in particular is a guided, self-sufficient trip in the coldest months.
Source: editor · category default · 2026-09-04. Category default set by the editor — a verified per-place season replaces it.
dune in Saudi Arabia
Short description from Wikidata (CC0) · Q32190919
About & Sources Umm Ghar ad Dawasir
Umm Ghar ad Dawasir is a desert landscape in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia — Wikidata describes it as "dune in Saudi Arabia". Entry fee, opening hours and vehicle requirements have not yet been verified for this page — the fact box says so plainly rather than guessing, so check locally before you go. For this kind of place the comfortable season is typically November–February. Nearby: Zaba'ir ad Darb, As Suwaydriyah and Zibarat Tuhayf.
At a glance
- Desert & Dunes · Eastern Province
- dune in Saudi Arabia
- Season: November–February (editor default)
- 2 open-data sources · verified not yet
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Umm Ghar ad Dawasir?
Typically November–February for desert & dunes. The deep desert is a short-winter destination and nothing else; the Empty Quarter in particular is a guided, self-sufficient trip in the coldest months.
How long do I need at Umm Ghar ad Dawasir?
Half a day, or overnight (guidance for this category).
What facilities are there at Umm Ghar ad Dawasir?
Nothing mapped nearby — bring water, expect no toilets (source: osm).
How high is Umm Ghar ad Dawasir?
About 480 m above sea level (source: srtm).
Where is Umm Ghar ad Dawasir?
In Eastern Province (SA-04), Saudi Arabia, at 25.0206, 47.9869 — near Zaba'ir ad Darb, As Suwaydriyah and Zibarat Tuhayf.
Who can take you there
All operators →Licensed local operators who run trips of this kind in this region. Contact them directly — we take no commission on an enquiry.
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Claim your listing →Operators are listed from open data and Ministry of Tourism's public directory. Ranking places paying operators first; everything else is by relevance and distance, and the badges say exactly what has been verified.
Nearby places
More in Eastern Province →
Zaba'ir ad Darb
dune in Saudi Arabia
As Suwaydriyah
dune in Saudi Arabia
Zibarat Tuhayf
dune in Saudi Arabia
Zibarat al Markhah
dune in Saudi Arabia
Information is compiled from open data and editor checks; conditions, fees and access change — verify locally before you travel.