How high is Tal Moreeb?

About 300 metres, with a steep side of more than 50 degrees.

In the LIWA Oasis, in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, about 230 km from Abu Dhabi city and 330 km from Dubai.

Do I need a 4×4 to reach Tal Moreeb?

No. A paved road leads to the dune. A 4×4 is needed only if you drive on sand.

When is the Moreeb Hill Climb?

It closes Liwa International Festival, which runs from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. The exact climb dates will be published by the organisers.

Tal Moreeb: the giant dune of Liwa, with height, location and how to see it

Last updated 22 October 2026

Tal Moreeb (also written Tel Moreeb or Moreeb Dune) is a giant sand dune in the LIWA Oasis, Abu Dhabi. It is about 300 metres high and its steep side slopes at more than 50 degrees. A paved road leads to it, and every December it is the setting of the Moreeb Hill Climb at Liwa International Festival.

Four quad bikes under the Liwa Moreeb Dune gate on the road to Tal Moreeb — The LIWA Moreeb Dune gate on the road to the dune. Photo: Mega Drive Experience × AMA.

Key facts

Height: about 300 metres, among the highest sand dunes in the world.
Slope: more than 50 degrees on the steep side.
Length: about 1.6 km.
Location: near Mzeerʻah, in the Liwa area of the Al Dhafra region, about 22 km south of Muzayri'.
Name: sometimes translated as “Terrifying Mountain”.

How to get there

A government-built paved road leads to the dune, so a regular car is enough in normal conditions. Windy days can leave sand on the road, so drive carefully. Liwa is about 230 km from Abu Dhabi (around two hours) and 330 km from Dubai (around three hours); allow a little more to reach the dune itself.

The Moreeb Hill Climb

Local enthusiasts began racing cars and bikes up the dunes of Liwa in the early 2000s. Today the Moreeb Hill Climb is the championship that closes Liwa International Festival, which runs this year from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. See our Moreeb Hill Climb guide for the schedule of the last edition and tips for watching.

What to do nearby

Watch the festival and the hill climb in December and January.
Ride the surrounding dunes by quad or buggy with a guide. At the festival, Mega Drive Experience × AMA runs two-hour guided rides three times a day.
Photograph the dune at sunrise or sunset, when the sand turns orange.
Spend the night in Liwa and see the stars over the Empty Quarter.

Three riders on quad bikes posing on a golden dune in Liwa — Quad riders on a dune in LIWA Oasis. Photo: Mega Drive Experience × AMA.

Safety

The slope is steep and the sand is loose. If you want to drive in the dunes, go with an experienced guide and a support vehicle rather than on your own.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Tal Moreeb?: About 300 metres, with a steep side of more than 50 degrees.
Where is Tal Moreeb?: In the LIWA Oasis, in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, about 230 km from Abu Dhabi city and 330 km from Dubai.
Do I need a 4×4 to reach Tal Moreeb?: No. A paved road leads to the dune. A 4×4 is needed only if you drive on sand.
When is the Moreeb Hill Climb?: It closes Liwa International Festival, which runs from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. The exact climb dates will be published by the organisers.