The satellite image shows the location of the belt of oases along the northern reaches of the Rub al Khali dune fields. The unmarked border with Saudi Arabia is shown as a red line. To the north, irrigated areas along the highway to Tarif on the coast of the Persian Gulf are visible.Location in the United Arab EmiratesDate palm trees in Liwa Oasis
Liwa Oasis is about 97.6 km (60.6 miles) south of the Persian Gulf coast and 150 km (93 miles) southwest of the city of Abu Dhabi, on the northern edge of Rub' al Khalidesert. It is centered around 23°08′N53°46′E / 23.133°N 53.767°E / 23.133; 53.767 and stretches about 100 km (62 miles) east-west, along an arch curved to the north. It consists of some 50 villages. The geographic and economic center of the oasis is Muzayri`, where the highway from Abu Dhabi enters the oasis and then divides to the east (65 km (40 miles) to the easternmost village, Mahdar Bin `Usayyan) and west (45 km (28 miles) to the westernmost village, `Aradah). According to the census of population of 2005, the population was 20,196.[2] Earlier estimates judging from satellite images which gauged the population at 50,000 to 150,000, were too high.[3] The villages of Liwa Oasis are the southernmost settlements of Abu Dhabi and of the United Arab Emirates. The southern border of Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia, which runs at a distance between 16 and 35 km (9.9 and 21.7 miles) to the Oasis, is a straight line in the Rub al Khali desert, which is largely uninhabited. Mahdar Bin `Usayyan is the southernmost village of the Emirates, and also the easternmost of the oasis. 10 km (6.2 miles) south of the border, and 40 km (25 miles) south of the eastern part of the oasis is the Saudi oil facility Shaybah. However, there is no road linking Liwa Oasis and Shaybah, and no border crossing. A modern, multi-lane highway connects the oasis area to the capital, Abu Dhabi.
An important traditional branch of the economy is date farming. There is a widespread use of drip irrigation and greenhouses. The importance of tourism is on the rise. There are several hotels in the area including the Liwa Hotel in Muzayri`, Tilal Liwa Hotel, the Liwa Rest House in the same village and run by the government of Abu Dhabi, and the resort Qasr Al Sarab.[5]
The nearby Moreeb dune (22°59′N53°47′E / 22.983°N 53.783°E / 22.983; 53.783), 22 kilometres (14 miles) south of Muzayri`, is 300 metres (980 feet) high, and is one of the largest dunes in the world. It attracts people every year during the Liwa festival,[6] where a large number of international and local visitors come to see the off-road and Liwa Moreeb Dune Festival, camel racing events.
History
The oasis is the place of birth of the ruling families of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In 1793, the ruling family Al Nahyan moved their residence from Liwa to Abu Dhabi.[7]
Traditionally, men from Liwa (Bani Yas tribe) were pearl divers on the coast during the summer months. Pearl diving offered an additional source of income.
The British explorer Wilfred Thesiger first arrived in Liwa around mid December 1946 in his first crossing of the Rub' Al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert.[8][9] This was followed by a second visit by Thesiger in early March 1948 during his second crossing of the Rub' Al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert.[8][10]
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