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Extent
The Dahna, or Lesser Nafud, is the Kingdom's third-largest desert. Its sands run from the Northern Borders through Hail, Al-Qassim and Riyadh to the Eastern Province in an arc about 1,200 km long covering some 45,000 km². [1]
Its northern end joins the Great Nafud and its southern end the Rub al Khali; its red dunes rise about 120 m above the ground. [1]
Significance and reserves
Tourism and nature
Related topics
- RegionNorthern Borders RegionA northern Saudi region administered from Arar, including Rafha, Turaif and Al Uwayqilah, with histories of pilgrimage routes, pastoral activity, Tapline settlement and mining.
- RegionHail RegionA north-central Saudi region administered from Hail, associated with the Aja and Salma mountains, the Nafud desert, historical caravan routes and varied regional activities.
- RegionQassim RegionAn inland Najdi region administered from Buraydah, associated with trading towns, date cultivation and markets, and the geographical corridor of Wadi Al Rummah.
- RegionRiyadh RegionA central Saudi administrative region encompassing the national capital and varied Najdi governorates, with connections to Diriyah, oasis settlement, government and modern economic activity.
- RegionEastern ProvinceA large eastern Saudi region administered from Dammam, combining Gulf cities, the oases of Al Ahsa and Qatif, desert areas, energy industries and maritime commerce.
- HistoricThe Great Nafud DesertThe Great Nafud Desert is a vast sand sea in the north of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, covering about 65,000 km², or nearly 3.2% of the Kingdom's land area, with wide parts lying within the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve. It contains a diversity of dune forms and notable landmarks such as Jabal Al-Ulaym and Nafud Al-Ashyakh.
- HistoricKing Abdulaziz Camel FestivalKing Abdulaziz Camel Festival is a Saudi event held in the southern As-Sayahid of the Ad-Dahna desert, north-east of Riyadh, devoted to the heritage of camels, their beauty contests, their races and the accompanying activities. The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) has organised and supervised it from 1438 AH/2017.
- HistoricImam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal ReserveThe Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve is a royal reserve in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia located northeast of the capital Riyadh. It is supervised by the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, which operates under the Council of Royal Reserves. The reserve covers an area of 11,300 km² and contains 213 plant species, six natural habitats and two archaeological sites.
- RegionAl-Ahsa GovernorateAl-Ahsa Governorate is a governorate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Within it lies the Al-Ahsa Oasis, the largest self-contained palm oasis in the world, with more than 2.5 million palm trees; it was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2018 CE.