Abu Dhabi’s fragile Fossil Dunes have formed over thousands of years, from a mixture of sand, wind and calcium carbonate.
How To Book
You won’t need to purchase any tickets to see these Fossil Dunes, as there is no specific entry point and access is free for the public.
When To Go
You can visit Abu Dhabi’s Fossil Dunes 24/7, 365 days a year.
However, it is best to visit these Fossil Dunes in the cooler months between October and March, as there is little to no shade available.
Occasionally these Fossil Dunes will be temporarily closed for a range of reasons, so best to check with 'Visit Abu Dhabi' before you plan to visit.
How To Get There
Located in the desert landscape of Al Wathba in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, these Fossil Dunes can be found approximately 70kms south on Abu Dhabi Island and south of the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve.
Whilst we accessed these Fossil Dunes in a small van, most other visitors came in a 4WD car.
Tips For Your Visit
There are no public bathrooms on-site, so make sure that you factor this into your travel plans and there is ample free parking on the desert sand right in front of the dunes.
What To Expect
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCE) asks all visitors not to touch or climb onto these Fossil Dunes and remove any rubbish that you bring along, in order to preserve them for many years to come.
This year authorities in Abu Dhabi announced that they would be conducting regular patrols of these Fossil Dunes, as vandals have damaged these fragile dunes in recent times.
What's Unique
What we loved about this site in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is that no 2 Fossil Dunes are the same!
The Verdict
Whilst we didn’t spend very long at these Fossil Dunes (approximately 15-20 minutes), it was well worth the drive to see these impressive natural wonders!
No one knows exactly how long these Fossil Dunes will be there for and what shapes they will continue to form over time.
A perfect excuse to keep revisiting these Fossil Dunes!
Sounds like fun? Don’t just take our word for it, experience it for yourself.
Be inspired to start or add to your very own bucket lists.
You can also click here for more unique bucket list ideas in the UAE!
Above prices & information correct as of November 2021.
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