In the south and west of the country, the land is mainly sand dunes and salt flats with the occasional traditional desert oasis. The largest oases are at Al Ain, 160km east of Abu Dhabi, and the Liwa in the southwest.
In the northern part of the country, the sand dunes yield to gravel plains formed by the Hajar Mountain range, dating back about 200 million years. The mountains themselves rise to a height of over 3000 m and run from the UAE south into Oman.
The east coast is essentially a fertile plain where rainfall and subterranean water have allowed agriculture to be practiced for thousands of years. Along the coast, there are long, unspoiled beaches stretching for kilometres. On the Arabian Gulf, over 100 islands and numerous shallow inlets add to the scenery; mangrove trees are common as are spawning fish and birds.