Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea)

Khor Al Adaid, the Inland Sea, is a tidal inlet of the Gulf ringed by sand dunes up to about 67 m high in the far south of Qatar on the Saudi border, about 78 km from Doha. It is reached only by 4x4 across the dunes, usually on a half-day or overnight desert safari, and the reserve charges no entry fee.

Khor Al Adaid is an inlet of the Gulf in Al Wakrah Municipality, about 78 kilometres south of Doha, where the sea pushes deep into the desert along the border with Saudi Arabia. Sand dunes between about 38 and 67 metres high surround the water, so that the sea appears to sit inside the desert.

Qatar declared the area a nature reserve in 2007. Covering about 1,833 square kilometres, it is the country's largest nature reserve, and Qatar has placed it on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List, where it remains. In November 2021 Saudi Arabia and Qatar demarcated their land border, moving the line south and giving Qatar access to the whole inlet.

The reserve supports ospreys, dugongs and turtles in and around the water, while the dunes are almost uninhabited apart from herders and visitors. It is one of the most popular domestic outings in the country, especially on winter weekends.

There is no paved road. The usual approaches start near Mesaieed or Mazrat Turaina and continue across the dunes, and most visitors join a licensed desert safari, which usually includes dune driving, a stop at the water and time to swim.

There is no fee to enter the reserve, while safari prices depend on the operator, group size and whether an overnight camp is included. Driving yourself needs off-road experience, lowered tyre pressure and a second vehicle. The months from October to April are the most comfortable, and many tours leave Doha in the afternoon to reach the water for sunset; carry extra water at any time of year.

The paved road ends near Sealine, south of Mesaieed, and the last 35 km to the water are dune tracks. There are no facilities inside the reserve; Sealine and the tour camps have them. Children are welcome on licensed tours, which provide child seats, and safaris can stop in extreme heat or wind.

Visit Qatar puts the drive at about 1 hour 30 minutes from Doha and lists Arabian oryx, gazelles, camels, flamingos and migratory birds alongside the turtles and dugongs. Safari packages usually combine dune bashing with sandboarding, quad biking or camel riding, and some camps stay overnight beside the water. Most tours start from Mesaieed or Sealine Beach, and the inlet itself has no facilities, so carry everything you need.