Light plays tricks on the eye in this stunning labyrinth. Image from here (accessed 4/2/2026).
Red Sandstone and Tectonic Cracks: The Making of a Canyon
Located in the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Natural Reserve, Wadi Al Disah—the “Valley of the Palm Trees”—is a stunning 15km canyon in northwest Saudi Arabia. It’s legendary for the sharp contrast between its massive red sandstone cliffs and a vibrant, spring-fed valley floor.
Geologists tell us that the towering walls of Wadi al-Disah are made of ancient sandstone that began forming millions of years ago. Over countless centuries, powerful desert winds and seasonal floods carved the soft rock into the dramatic 1,000-foot pillars and the “mushroom” shapes you see today. This rugged landscape was actually “cracked” open by the same tectonic forces that created the Red Sea, leaving behind the deep, winding canyon floor that is now a lush paradise.
Watch the video
Click on the panel below to view “Desert Canyonland: The Waid al-Disah.”