Wahiba Sands lies in the eastern region of Oman. The sands stretch from north to south 180 kilometers, east to west 80 kilometers, with high dunes, extensive woodlands and an unspoiled coastline.  Some of the sand dunes are 100 meters in height.  Total land area is approximately 12,000 square kilometers with about 3,000 Bedu of varying tribal origins including Janabah, Mawalik, Hikman, Amr and Wahiba.

The sand consists of quartz, carbonate and ophiolitic grains blown in from nearby eroded rocks and marine sediments.  The sand dunes are moving inland at about 10 meters each year.

The mudflats and lagoons around Barr Al Hikman, inside Wahiba Sands, are home to a large migrant bird population in the winter. Sand dunes called Aeolianite which is exposed in cliffs at the coast north of Ras Ar Ruays.  The Aeolianite is the most extensive so far reported in the world. An Aeolianite is cemented wind blown sand.

About 180 species of plants, including one new to science and 200 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians roam the sands.  Evidence of human occupation in the sands dates as far back as 8000 years in the form of stone tools.

The falaj system which is widely used in Oman, and especially in coastal and desert gravel plains, tunnels are dug at a shallow angle to tap the underground water.  The longest known tunnel was 120 kilometers running beneath the Wahiba Sands.