The deserts of the Middle East are an endless run of brownish-yellow sand, right?
They certainly are not if you take a look from space via Google Earth Views, a fabulous collection of thousands of images.
From the capital city Riyadh to the dunes of Al Ahsa, and the coastal areas where waters lap untouched islands, the variety of imagery in Saudi Arabia is quite breathtaking.
And there's plenty more where these came from.
For those who really like what they see, the images can be downloaded from Google and used as digital wallpapers.
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Beautiful world: 50 of the best new images from Google Earth View
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Wiluna, Australia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Sun Lakes, Arizona, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Aswan Governorate, Egypt. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Newark, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Al Fasher, Sudan. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Zeewolde, Netherlands. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Chicago, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Tanbar, Australia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Florence, Italy. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Mayo, Ireland. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Boca Raton, Florida, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Hardan Region, Namibia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Abu Dhabi, UAE. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Maricopa County, Arizona, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Cushing, Oklahoma, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Nijar, Spain. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Yandoo Creek, Australia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Uluru, Australia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Greenland. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Hamburg, Germany. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Al Jowf, Saudi Arabia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Sublette, Kansas, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Kasese, Uganda. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Waddan, Libya. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Fderik, Mauritania. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Imperial, California. United States. Maxar Technologies / Google -

San Bernardino County, California, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

South China Sea. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Kondh, India. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Shangqui Shi, China. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Bottrop, Germany. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Antarctica. Maxar Technologies / Google -

West Berkshire, UK. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Nomgon, Mongolia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Monaco, France. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Panama, Central America. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Gila Bend, Arizona, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Madrid, Spain. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Washington, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Torino, Italy. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Philadelphia, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Le Grau-du-Roi, France. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Hitchcock, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Calabasas, California, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Tuscon, plane boneyard, Arizona, US. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Kepulauan Aru Regency, Indonesia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Colchani, Bolivia. Maxar Technologies / Google -

Newark, New Jersey, US. Maxar Technologies / Google
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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While you're here
Samanth Subramanian: Imposing Hindi could undermine India's linguistic diversity
Phil Mercer: Aboriginal musicians are struggling to be heard
Gavin Esler: What we lose when we allow languages to die
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Friday's schedule in Madrid
Men's quarter-finals
Novak Djokivic (1) v Marin Cilic (9) from 2pm UAE time
Roger Federer (4) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 7pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Alexander Zverev (3) from 9.30pm
Stan Wawrinka v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11.30pm
Women's semi-finals
Belinda Bencic v Simona Halep (3) from 4.30pm
Sloane Stephens (8) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 10pm
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The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
Rashmee Roshan Lall: Sound of silence in South Asia
Fanar Haddad: The Iranian response will be gradual
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
While you're here
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality
The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'
While you're here...
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
MORE FROM ED HUSAIN: The UAE-Israel accord is a win for every Muslim
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