Looking to explore some incredible UAE nature? The Al Wathba Fossil Dune Protected Area is opening to the public. It’s the first park of its kind in the United Arab Emirates, and it allows people to responsibly visit over 1,700 rare fossil dunes.
The Al Wathba Fossil Dune Protected Area opens on Saturday February 5. It will be open throughout the week from 8am to 10pm. From Friday to Sunday and on official holidays, the site will be open until 11pm with free entry.
The protected area is located 45 kilometres east of Abu Dhabi city and is comprised of more than 1,700 fossil dunes spread over seven square kilometres. The area has three kilometres of trails and an eco-tourism programme that gives you the opportunity to learn more about the scenic landscapes. Don’t feel like exercising? There are umbrellas and seats to sit back and take in the natural landscape.
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Visitors to the fossil dunes can also expect to enjoy music and light shows which will take place throughout the opening hours and can be viewed from the ampitheatre area, which holds 200 visitors. There will also be food and drinks trucks in dedicated areas.
The protected area is one of the key components of the UAE’s natural heritage. It is listed as an official natural reserve by the International Union of Conversation of Nature’s criteria and is nominated to be listed in UNESCO’s global list of geoparks.
Wondering what a fossil dune is, exactly? A fossil dune is made of outcrops of lightly cemented, cross-bedded dune sands formed by deposits of calcium carbonate and other salts from ground water in the glacial period. The formations of the fossil dunes come from wind force and sediment supply. Specialists estimate the fossil formations trace back to the Ice Age, from around 120,000 years ago.
If you’re looking to to explore the UAE and its incredible landscapes and see natural history dating back to the Ice Ages, this eco-tourism attraction promises to be a memorable experience.
Free. Mon-Thu 8am-10pm. Fri-Sun 8am-11pm.
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