The Empty Quarter or Liwa Desert is made up of massive dunes and is a true wilderness. Without a single permanent human habitation or known point of water, it is preserved by its harsh climate and extreme remoteness, as well as a fascinating tradition of a hardy people living at its edges. Only a fraction of the size of its giant neighbor, the Sahara, the Empty Quarter is the largest, and most likely the hottest, sand desert in the world. The oasis settlements of Liwa dot its southern flank and are just an hour and a half south of Abu Dhabi.