Geology of Arabian

Shelf
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sedimentary Cover
Dr. Majed Turkistani
Geomorphology of Arabian
Pennisula

1 The Coastal Areas (East and West) 3

2 Summan Plateau 5

3 Eolian Sand Region 7

4 Hills Regions 9

5 Central Plateau Region 11

6 Western Region Mountains 12

7 Southern Region Mountains 14

8 Oman Mountains 16

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Geomorphology of Arabian
Pennisula

1 The Coastal Areas (East)

Eastern Coastal Areas

• The Eastern Coastal Areas of the Arabian Peninsula stretch along the
coast of the Arabian Gulf. This includes parts of countries like Saudi
Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
• The region is bounded by the Arabian Gulf to the east and the vast
Arabian Desert to the west.
• The eastern coastal areas of the Arabian Peninsula are characterized by
low-lying plains and coastal sabkhas.
• Coastal Plains: The area features extensive coastal plains. These
plains are characterized by sandy beaches and are occasionally
interrupted by rocky outcrops.
• The plains are made up of sedimentary rocks, such as limestone,
sandstone, and shale.
• The coastal sabkhas are salt flats that form in arid and semi-arid
regions.
• These areas are often covered by a thin layer of salt and gypsum.
• Inland Topography: Moving inland, the topography rises gradually
towards the Arabian Shield in the west. This gradual incline is
marked by a series of plateaus and hills.
• The region is significant for its vast oil reserves, predominantly located in
the subsurface sedimentary layers.

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Geomorphology of Arabian Pennisula
(Pictures)
Flooded sabkha in Khursaniyah
(Abdulkader. et. al., 2019)

Sand dunes adjacent to saline

Sabkha (Abdulkader. et. al., 2019)

Coastal Sabkha and Teepee salt crust

Formations (Abdulkader. et. al., 2019)

Extent of coastal sabkhas of Eastern

province of SA (Abdulkader. et. al., 2019)

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Geomorphology of Arabian
Pennisula

1 The Coastal Areas (West)

Western Coastal Areas

• The Western Coastal Areas extend along the Red Sea, from the
Gulf of Aqaba in the north to the border with Yemen in the south.
• Coastal Plains: The Tihamah is the narrow coastal plain running
along the Red Sea. It's characterized by sandy and rocky
beaches.
• Mountain Ranges: East of the Tihamah lies the Sarawat or
Hejaz mountain range, with elevations reaching over 2,500
meters. These mountains drop steeply to the Red Sea, forming a
dramatic and rugged landscape.
• The western coastal areas of the Arabian Peninsula are
characterized by the Red Sea Rift.
• The western coastal areas of the Arabian Peninsula are also
home to a number of volcanic features. These features include
lava flows, cinder cones, and volcanic domes.
• The volcanic features in the western coastal areas of the Arabian
Peninsula are a result of the geological activity that is associated
with the Red Sea Rift.

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Geomorphology of Arabian Pennisula
(Pictures)
Western Coastal Areas Alith (ALmosafer, retrieved 30 Dec 2023)
of SA (Arab News, retrieved 30 Dec 2023)

Gulf of Aqaba (Florent Egal, retrieved 30 Dec 2023) Tayeb Al-ism (Florent Egal, retrieved 30 Dec 2023)

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Geomorphology of Arabian
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2 Summan Plateau

• The Summan Plateau is a limestone plateau located in the central

Arabian Peninsula, in Saudi Arabia.
• It is about 200 km long and 100 km wide, and it rises to an
elevation of about 2,500 meters.
• The plateau is home to a number of geological features, including
caves, sinkholes, and gorges.
• The Summan Plateau is a karst region, which means that it is
characterized by a landscape that has been shaped by the
dissolution of limestone. The limestone in the Summan Plateau is
soluble in water, and over time, rainwater has dissolved the
limestone to create caves, sinkholes, and gorges.
• The caves in the Summan Plateau are some of the longest and
deepest in the world. Some of the caves are over 10 km long and
over 1 km deep. The caves are home to a variety of wildlife,
including bats, spiders, and insects.
• The sinkholes in the Summan Plateau are also impressive. Some
of the sinkholes are over 100 meters deep and over 1 km wide.
The sinkholes are often filled with water, and they form oases in
the desert landscape.

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Geomorphology of Arabian Pennisula (Pictures)

Summan Plateau in Saudi Arabia

(Wikipedia, retrieved 30 Dec 2023)

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Geomorphology of Arabian
Pennisula

3 Eolian Sand Region

• The sand covers a large area of Saudi Arabia, which is about one-
third of the country.
• These regions are: Ar Rub’ Al Khali (Empty Quarter), An Nafud, Ad
Dahna, and Al Jafurah.
• The sand in these regions accumulate during the Quaternary
Period, and it originated from the Bitlis-Zagros thust belt.
• The sand was transported by north winds during the Plesitocene
Period and formed the dunes.
• The youngest dunes are that within the Al Jafurah area, which
took 4000 years to accumulate.

Eolian Sand Region of Saudi Arabia

(Benaafi et al., 2020)

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Geomorphology of Arabian Pennisula
(Pictures)

Empty Quarter (Alarabiya News, retrieved 30 Dec 2023) Ad Dahna(Florent Egal, retrieved 30 Dec 2023)

Al Jafura (@ahmadam on X, retrieved 30 Dec 2023)

An Nafud (Alarabiya News, retrieved 30 Dec 2023)

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Geomorphology of Arabian
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4 Hills Region

• The Hills region spans primarily along the western edge of the
Arabian Peninsula.
• It includes the Asir and Hijaz mountain ranges, extending from the
southern borders of Saudi Arabia near Yemen, northwards towards
Jordan.
• Asir Mountains: These are situated in the southwestern part
of Saudi Arabia, with elevations reaching over 3,000 meters.
The area is known for its rugged terrain and steep cliffs.
• Hijaz Mountains: Located to the north of the Asir region,
these mountains are also characterized by high elevations
and steep escarpments.
• The region's geology is diverse, featuring ancient crystalline
rocks, volcanic outcrops, and sedimentary formations along
the coastal areas.

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Geomorphology of Arabian
Pennisula

5 Central Plateau Region

• Najd is the primary region considered the Central Plateau of the

Arabian Peninsula.
• The Najd encompasses much of the interior of Saudi Arabia,
stretching from the Rub' al Khali desert in the south to the Nefud
desert in the north. It's a vast and diverse region with a rich history
and culture.
• The Najd is primarily a rocky plateau with an average elevation of
1,000-1,500 meters (3,300-4,900 feet). It's dotted with wadis (dry
riverbeds), jebels (mountains), and vast plains.
• The region experiences a hot desert climate with long, hot
summers and mild winters. Rainfall is scarce and unpredictable,
often occurring in sudden downpours that can cause flash floods.
• Scattered throughout the Najd are precious oases, providing vital
water sources and pockets of fertile land that have sustained
settlements for centuries.

Central Plateau Region Map

(Wikipedia, reterived January 6 - 2024)

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Geomorphology of Arabian Pennisula
(Pictures)

Twaiq (Wikipedia, retrieved 06 Jna 2024)

Twaiq (ZamZam, retrieved 06 Jna 2024)

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Geomorphology of Arabian
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6 Western Mountains Region

• Sarawat Mountains: This is the longest and most dominant

mountain range in the western region, running parallel to the Red
Sea from Jordan to Yemen. It can be further divided into sub-
ranges:
• Hijaz Mountains: The northernmost portion, with peaks
generally under 2600 meters. Well-known cities like Mecca
and Medina are located here.
• Asir Mountains: The central part, boasting several peaks
exceeding 3000 meters. Known for its stunning scenery and
rich biodiversity.
• Sarat al Yemen: The southernmost section, extending into
Yemen. Notable for its dramatic landscapes and historical
significance.
• Midian Mountains: Located northwest of the Sarawat range, in
the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Relatively lower
mountains with unique rock formations and historical importance.
• The mountains are primarily composed of ancient volcanic and
metamorphic rocks, offering insights into the geological history of
the region.

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Geomorphology of Arabian Pennisula
(Pictures)
Hijaz Mountains (Wikipedia, retrieved 06 Jna 2024)
Sarawat Mountains (Wikipedia, retrieved 06 Jna 2024)

Asir Mountains (Wikipedia, retrieved 06 Jna 2024) Midian Mountains (Wikipedia,

retrieved 06 Jna 2024)

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Geomorphology of Arabian
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7 Southern Mountain Region

• The region stretches from southern Saudi Arabia into Yemen,

offering diverse landscapes, rich history, and stunning
scenery.
• Geology: Similar to the rest of the Sarawat range, Sarat al
Yemen is formed from ancient volcanic and metamorphic
rocks, showcasing dramatic cliffs, valleys, and weathered rock
formations.

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Geomorphology of Arabian
Pennisula

8 Oman Mountains

• The Oman Mountains, also known as the Hajar Mountains, are a truly
magnificent range stretching across northeastern Oman.
• Continental collision: The mountains formed about 80 million years
ago when the Arabian Plate collided with the Indian Plate. This collision
pushed up the ocean floor and created the Hajar Mountains, the main
range of the Oman Mountains.
• Ophiolite obduction: During the collision, a massive chunk of oceanic
crust, called the Semail Ophiolite, was scraped off the Indian Plate and
thrust onto the Arabian Plate. This ophiolite complex is one of the best-
preserved and most accessible in the world, offering valuable insights
into the formation of oceanic crust.
• Ophiolite sequence: This sequence consists of various rock types,
including ultramafic rocks like peridotite and gabbro, volcanic rocks like
pillow lavas and sheeted dykes, and sedimentary rocks like chert and
limestone.
• Metamorphic rocks: The collision and subsequent heating also
created metamorphic rocks, such as eclogite, blueschist, and
amphibolite, in the northeastern part of the mountains.
• Carbonate rocks: The pre-collision Arabian continental margin was
covered by a thick layer of carbonate rocks, such as limestone and
dolomite, which are now exposed in the Eastern Hajar Mountains.

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Geomorphology of Arabian Pennisula
(Pictures)
Oman Mountains (iStock, retrieved 06 Jna 2024)

Geology of Oman showing Semail ophiolite in pink (Singh, 2016)

Oman Mountains (iStock, retrieved 06 Jna 2024)

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