Vast tracts of sand stretch alongside the tarmac road that leads to Saudi Arabia, where most of the Empty Quarter can be found. The drive from Dubai takes roughly three hours through part of the Rub al Khali, the longest sand desert with some of the highest dunes in the world.

The hypnotic stillness hasn’t changed in thousands of years. You half expect T.E. Lawrence to appear on the horizon astride a camel.

To read the full story please go to Travel Write. Originally published at Travel Write on the 6th of May, 2012.