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Is a desert just empty space?

Here we'll be focusing on the desert as we mainly know it, the beautiful and mysterious Arabian Desert! The desert is a harsh environment for people, animals and plants because of the extreme heat, and little resources (food and water).

Despite the harsh environment, Emirati ancestors, the Bedouin, (nomadic, desert people, moving from place to place across North Africa to the Middle East in search of grazing areas) were able to survive, making them among the most resilient people on earth.

The UAE's desert landscape, once traversed by Bedouin, is comprised of plains, sand sheets, sand dunes, sabkhas, burqas and mesas. Burqas and mesas are the local names given to rocky outcrops and small jebels (mountains) found in the western region, which have long been protected following a verbal request by the late Sheikh Zayed. They have unique topographic features and provide key ecological functions as nesting and denning habitat for birds and bats and hold significant cultural value.

The land of lost borders... What you should know about the desert -

Sand dunes are sculpted primarily by wind - they can rise up to 180 meters or 590 feet! ( National Geographic ). One of the UAE's most notable sand dunes is Tal Moreeb in Liwa - 300 metres high! A must-see attraction!

What can you find in the UAE's deserts? Deserts may lack water, but they don't lack life.

Desert plants and animals have evolved to minimize water loss, and are very effective at absorbing, storing and managing the little water they do get, enabling them to survive long periods of drought. For example, the Ghaf tree has roots up to 30 metres long to access water deep underground.

Several animals have adapted to stay cool by becoming nocturnal and living underground.

Animal diversity is high, especially among reptile species, which are particularly well adapted to hot and dry conditions.

The UAE deserts are also home to a range of interesting species:

Trees such as the Ghaf, Samur and Arabian Gum Tree
Trees are used for roosting and breeding by species such as the Desert Eagle Owl.

Desert shrubs such as the native Haloxylon salicornicum (locally known as Rimth), and small trees such as the Haloxylon persicum (locally known as Ghada).

Breeding birds such as t Hoopoe-Lark, Black-crowned Finch-Lark Crested Lark and Southern Grey Shrike, Cream-colored cursor.

A wide variety of animals, including the Sand Cat, Houbara, Barbary Falcon, Rupell's Fox, Sand Gazelle, Arabian Oryx, Arabian Sand Gecko, Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard ( Dhub), Desert Monitor, Arabian Horned Viper and the Yellow-Spotted Agama.

Why are deserts important?
desert ecosystem is a habitat for several wild animals. Now, what does the desert mean to the people, history and culture of the UAE? The desert has helped shape the culture and traditions of the Emirati people.

In the words of the UAE President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, "The desert occupies the largest part of our country and is the factor with the deepest and far-reaching impact on our cultural history and social activity and tremendous influence in our economy. The desert is the source of water and natural wealth and an incubator of pasture and medical plants. It is the source of our home, life, identity and our future. It is land thriving with life."

There are many ways to enjoy the desert: moonlight dune walks, storytelling around the campfire, camping, spotting species, and stargazing

"I do love the desert. Whenever I feel a little tired, I go there to restore my strength," The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates
Desert plants play a variety of important roles, including: Deserts in the UAE: a famous cultural landmark.
Some of the deserts in the UAE include:

The Arabian Desert, also known as the Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali in Arabic), lies in the south-western portion of the UAE, within the emirate of Abu Dhabi

Al Khatim Desert, located between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain

The Gulf of Oman Desert, spanning Fujairah and the north-eastern coast

Hajar Mountains

UAE authorities have designated several desert areas as protected areas:

Dubai:

Fujairah

Sharjah:
Abu Dhabi Protected Areas:
Threats to desert biodiversity
Desert soils take a long time to recover from environmental disturbances, due to the desert's dry conditions. This makes desert landscapes exceptionally vulnerable to human activities, such as:

The desert continues to play an important role in the UAE and we each need to do our part to take care of it. There are many ways you can make a difference.

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Deserts may lack water, but they don't lack life.

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Land Activities

There is no shortage of opportunities to enjoy Canada's incredible terrain in a variety of ways - running, hiking, biking, horseback riding, off-roading, climbing, caving, and the list goes on. At AdventureSmart we love to see people out clambering up mountains, ripping through trails and generally enjoying everything this wondrous country has to offer! Our goal is to give you the tools and knowledge to have a safe and enjoyable outing, regardless of your outdoor adventure passion.

Know Before You Go!

dress in layers to regulate body temperature and adjust to sudden changes in weather conditions.

it may be limited to highway corridors or impacted by physical obstacles which can block the signal.

Know which animals are in the area and how to react if you cross their path.

Avoid injury and exhaustion.

Familiarize yourself with the area and activity in which you are engaging.

Water Activities

Cold, clear and inviting...three words often used to describe the vast and various bodies of water in and around Canada. Watersports addicts from around the globe flock to Canadian provinces/territories to share the beautiful lakes, rivers and ocean shorelines with local enthusiasts. From fishing and boating to paddling and diving; from the sail sports to the board sports, Canadian waters have all the bases covered.

Know Before You Go!

familiarize yourself with the area and activity in which you are engaging.

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. If the body's core temperature drops too low, it will become a life threatening situation.

Hypothermia is easy to avoid: hydrate, keep dry, snack and avoid excessive heat loss.

Hyperthermia is the term we use for illnesses related to too much heat. Our body perspires to cool our rising core temperature as we paddle.

In the event of hyperthermia, take a break, find shade, hydrate or go for a swim.

1-10-1 relates to the three phases of cold water immersion and the approximate time each phase takes.

1 minute-cold shock: An initial deep sudden gasp followed by hyperventilation that is 6 to 10 times more rapid than normal breathing. You have one minute to get your breathing under control.

10 minutes-cold incapacitation: Gradual loss of effective use of your fingers, arms, and legs. If not wearing a lifejacket, drowning is likely because of swim failure.

1 hour-hypothermia: Even in ice water it could take 1 hour before becoming unconscious due to hypothermia. In order to lose consciousness the body core temperature has to go below 30 degrees; this time can vary depending on the temperature of the water.

The longer one spends immersed in cold water, the less the chance of survival. Self-rescue skills and the ability to alert SAR usually dictates whether the outcome is a rescue or a recovery. Practice self rescue methods to reduce the use of SAR and lower the risk of distress during water incidents.

Winter Activities

There is no shortage of opportunities to enjoy Canada's incredible terrain in a variety of ways - running, hiking, biking, horseback riding, off-roading, climbing, caving, and the list goes on. At AdventureSmart we love to see people out clambering up mountains, ripping through trails and generally enjoying everything this wondrous country has to offer! Our goal is to give you the tools and knowledge to have a safe and enjoyable outing, regardless of your outdoor adventure passion.

Know Before You Go!

dress in layers to regulate body temperature and adjust to sudden changes in weather conditions.

it may be limited to highway corridors or impacted by physical obstacles which can block the signal.

Know which animals are in the area and how to react if you cross their path.

Avoid injury and exhaustion.

Familiarize yourself with the area and activity in which you are engaging.

Trip Planning

Canada is a country of extremes - rugged mountains, glistening waters, lush rainforests, vast prairies, icy glaciers, extensive coastlines. Though Canada's scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, it also plays host to unpredictable and potentially dangerous terrain, weather and wildlife.

We rarely head out for an outdoor adventure with the expectation that something will go wrong, and, most times, everything will go right. However, that one time that the unexpected happens...your investment in Trip Safety can mean the difference between a successful outcome and becoming a statistic.

Trip Tips

In an Emergency

stay calm and maintain a positive attitude.

Sit, Think, Observe and Plan.

it reduces time and search area for the authorities looking for you.

think BIG, Think CONTRAST, Think 3's. Use whistle blasts x 3, mirror flashes x 3, horn blasts x 3, signal fires x 3 or rock piles x 3 to signal distress. Create a ground-to-air symbol by making the letter "V" or "SOS", at least 3 meters in length.

Kids

At AdventureSmart, we love to see kids enjoying the great outdoors! There's nothing like fresh air to help keep kids healthy. While you're teaching your kids to enjoy outdoor activities, be sure to give them the proper knowledge and tools for their safety.

Heading outdoors?

Leave a Trip Plan.

AdventureSmart is a national program dedicated to encouraging Canadians and visitors to Canada to "Get informed and go outdoors". AdventureSmart balances key safety messages with an individual's responsibility for safety; encouraging the public to obtain the knowledge, skills and equipment necessary for them to enjoy their outdoor pursuits. By being AdventureSmart, outdoor recreationalists make informed decisions, reducing the frequency, severity and duration of search and rescue (SAR) incidents.

Heading outdoors?

Leave a Trip Plan.

AdventureSmart is a national program dedicated to encouraging Canadians and visitors to Canada to "Get informed and go outdoors". AdventureSmart balances key safety messages with an individual's responsibility for safety; encouraging the public to obtain the knowledge, skills and equipment necessary for them to enjoy their outdoor pursuits. By being AdventureSmart, outdoor recreationalists make informed decisions, mitigate risk and ultimately reduce the number and severity of search and rescue (SAR) incidents.

Generally, there is no cost to receive a presentation, however there are times when a presenter may have to charge a fee to cover cost for rental space to provide a presentation. Please note that this rarely happens, would be discussed with you ahead of time and the fee would only cover the cost to provide the presentation and never for profit.

To request a AdventureSmart presentation, click the "Request a Presentation" link found on most pages throughout our website, or at the bottom of any of the program pages. Once you access the link, provide us with a much detail as possible, your request will then be sent to the appropriate Regional Coordinator who will delegate your request to the nearest presenter. Please allow three weeks for request to be processed.

Yes, provided the individual is associated with an organization/company that is willing to accept liability should anything happen during a presentation. This ensures that all presenters have access to insurance coverage should it be needed.

Click the " Register as a Presenter " link found on most pages throughout our site. This link will bring you to the presenter registration portal. Once you have completed the registration request our system will send you a verification email (if you don't see it right away, check you junk/spam folder). You will not be able to gain access to the site until the appropriate Coordinator has approved your registration; you will be notified when your registration has been approved. This may take a few days so please be patient. Note: only trained presenters will be approved, if you have not received AdventureSmart training, please request training.

When logged in, head to the "File" section and under "Presenter Material", there you will find the order form for AdventureSmart outreach material. Please note that this material is only provided free of charge to select organizations and other organization must purchase their own material. If you wish to purchase material, contact to receive contact info for suppliers.

Currently we have just over 1000 presenters across Canada. Annually these presenters provide almost 2,000 presentations to over 90,000 individuals with a total of 10,000 presenter hours.

Avid adventurer?

Outdoors dreamer?

Stay connected with AdventureSmart to learn all the latest news.

*In order to become a presenter with AdventureSmart, individuals need to be associated with an organization.

More questions?

Contact us.

We invite your feedback on the AdventureSmart Program and our website! You can complete a survey if you have taken one of our programs or use the feedback form below for other topics.

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AdventureSmart | Get Informed and Go Outdoors!

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There is no shortage of opportunities to enjoy Canada's incredible terrain in a variety of ways - running, hiking, biking, horseback riding, off-roading, climbing, caving, and the list goes on. At AdventureSmart we love to see people out clambering up mountains, ripping through trails and generally enjoying everything this wondrous country has to offer!

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Contrary to popular believe the desert is teeming with life of all shapes and sizes. Many of these species have unique and fascinating adaptations to survive in what can at times be a harsh environment.This guide of the fauna and flora of the Dubai desert conservation reserve is designed to assist visitors in identifying the different species that occur in the desert as well as to gain a better understanding on how they live and survive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Contrary to popular believe the desert is teeming with life of all shapes and sizes. Many of these species have unique and fascinating adaptations to survive in what can at times be a harsh environment.This guide of the fauna and flora of the Dubai desert conservation reserve is designed to assist visitors in identifying the different species that occur in the desert as well as to gain a better understanding on how they live and survive.

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Wild Arabia - Hidden Deep in the Desert | Wonders of the Wildlife (Nat Geo Wild)

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Wild Arabia - Hidden Deep in the Desert | Wonders of the Wildlife (Nat Geo Wild)