A wadi is a depression in the mountains - or in gravel plains or dune areas - caused by natural processes such as the movement of the earth’s surface and weathering. Water from the surrounding areas runs into these wadis and, being the course of least resistance, they carry the water to wherever they lead, be it sea, lake or plain. In other words, wadis are watercourses - according to the Westernised version of the word. According to the literal translation from the Arabic, however, wadis are valleys.

The desert areas of the Emirates provide evidence of a surprising wealth of animal life, although it’s likely you’ll see only a small proportion of the animals. While there’s an interesting diversity of species, the numbers within each species are generally small. Also, many are nocturnal, hiding during the day in caves, in the sand and beneath stones, and are therefore seldom seen.

The bird life in the UAE is surprisingly rich and diverse with more than 400 species recorded. The reason tor this abundance is the UAE’s location on an important migratory crossroads, where at least 320 migrants from Siberia and Central Asia have been identified. Some of these birds migrate through the country: during spring and autumn, others overwinter during the cooler months.

This, however, does not mean there’s a lack of colourful indigenous species to be seen and serious birdwatchers will always be on the look out for specials such as Chestnut- bellied Sandgrouse, White- collared Kingfisher, Hume’s Wheatear and Purple Sunbird.

Camels are the most frequently encountered animals in the desert, and desert dwellers were once dependent on them for their very survival. Camels were, in fact, the best friends of desert dwellers, who took almost as much care of them as they did of themselves, depending on them for their mobility, for transporting goods, for milk, meat and companionship. Even the coat of camels was used as wool for making rugs, clothing, tents and ropes, while leather from camels was used for ‘ containers to carry water and milk, and for drums.

Rural people are different from city dwellers the world over. In the UAE, those who live in the countryside tend to be intimate and hospitable and they expect the same courtesy from visitors. They’re also territorial and have a strong sense of ownership.

Like the mountains and deserts where they live, they are mysterious and not easy to understand. For their part, they’ll wonder why you’ve come to visit their barren land and look at you suspiciously. It fakes a great deal of contact and communication to win their friendship, but if you do it will be for life.