Editing Rub' al Khali (section)

===Expeditions===
The first documented journeys by non-resident explorers were made by British explorers [[Bertram Thomas]] and [[St John Philby]] in the early 1930s. Between 1946 and 1950, [[Wilfred Thesiger]] crossed the area several times and mapped large parts of the Empty Quarter including the mountains of Oman, as described in his 1959 book ''[[Arabian Sands]]''.<ref name=Morton>{{cite journal | author=Morton, Michael Q. | title=Thesiger and the Oilmen | journal=Journal of the Petroleum History Institute | date=December 2013 | volume=14 | pages=125–39 | url=https://www.academia.edu/7205667}}</ref><ref name="Ali">{{cite book |last1=Al-Naimi |first1=Ali |title=Out of the Desert |date=2016 |publisher=Portfolio Penguin |location=Great Britain |isbn=9780241279250 |pages=211}}</ref>

[[File:09 proti Hadramavtu (9).jpg|thumb|Sand dunes of the desert in [[Hadhramaut]], [[Yemen]]]]

In June 1950, a [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]] expedition crossed the Rub' al Khali from [[Dhahran]], Saudi Arabia, to central Yemen and back<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zianet.com/tmorris/june1950expedition-1.jpg|format=JPG|title=Photographic image|website=Zianet.com|access-date=2017-08-10}}</ref> in trucks to collect specimens for the [[Smithsonian Institution]] and to test desert survival procedures.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ted A. Morris |url=http://www.zianet.com/tmorris/dhahran.html |title=US Air Force Air Sea Rescue in Saudi Arabia 1950–1951 |publisher=Zianet.com |access-date=2011-04-09}}</ref>

In 1999, [[Jamie Clarke (adventurer)|Jamie Clarke]] became the first Westerner to cross the Empty Quarter of Arabia in fifty years. His team of six, guided by three [[Bedouin]]s, spent 40 days crossing the desert with a caravan of 13 camels.<ref>''Everest to Arabia''. Clarke J. Azimuth Inc. 2000</ref>

On 25 February 2006, a scientific excursion organized by the [[Saudi Geological Survey]] began to explore the Empty Quarter. The expedition consisted of 89 environmentalists, geologists, and scientists from Saudi Arabia and abroad. Various types of fossilized creatures as well as meteorites were discovered in the desert. The expedition discovered 31 new plant species and plant varieties, as well as 24 species of birds that inhabit the region, which fascinated scientists as to how they have survived under the harsh conditions of the Empty Quarter.<ref>{{cite web|author=Saudi Geological Survey |url=http://www.sgs.org.sa/English/Desert_Studies/Pages/default.aspx |title=Desert Studies |access-date=2011-10-28}}</ref>

In February 2013, a South African team including Alex Harris, Marco Broccardo, and David Joyce became the first people to cross the border close to Oman of the Empty Quarter unsupported and on foot,<ref>{{cite web|title=Feature Report- 17 March- Empty Quarter Expedition|url=http://www.city7tv.com/news_details.aspx?id=445|work=City 7 News}}</ref> in a journey which started in [[Salalah]] and lasted 40 days, ending in [[Dubai]]. The team only made use of three water stops along the journey and pulled a specially designed cart that housed all the supplies necessary for the entire expedition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emptyquarter.co.za|title=empty quarter expedition website|website=Emptyquarter.co.za|access-date=23 December 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109113305/http://www.emptyquarter.co.za/|archive-date=9 January 2016}}</ref>

In 2013, British adventurer Alistair Humphreys released his first documentary film, ''Into the Empty Quarter'', documenting his walk through the Empty Quarter desert with Leon McCarron.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Humphreys |first1=Alastair |title=Into the Empty Quarter |type=Documentary, Adventure, Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3393362/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |others=Alastair Humphreys, Leon McCarron |last2=McCarron |first2=Leon}}</ref>

In 2013, from 18 February to 28 March, South Korean explorer Young-Ho Nam led a team (Agustin Arroyo Bezanilla, Si-Woo Lee) on a crossing through the Empty Quarter on foot from [[Salalah, Oman]], to [[Liwa Oasis]] in the [[Emirates of the United Arab Emirates|UAE]] Emirate of [[Abu Dhabi]]. The crossing was performed with permission from the governments of Oman and the UAE. Dewan Ruler's Representative for Western Region, Emirate of Abu Dhabi recognized it as the world's first on-foot crossing of the Empty Quarter following the border of Oman and ending in UAE.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.explorersweb.com/world/news.php?id=21490 |title=ExWeb interview with Young-Ho Nam, life is like crossing a desert |author=Kyu Dam Lee |publisher=ExplorersWeb}}</ref>

In 2018, the first all-female walking expedition, named "Her Faces of Change", led by Briton Janey McGill, who was accompanied by the first Omani women in modern times to walk the Oman Empty Quarter, Baida Al Zadjali and Atheer Al Sabri, set off on 22 December 2018 after receiving formal approval from the government of Oman.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kothaneth |first=Lakshmi |date=2019-01-06 |title=Omani Women set to conquer Empty Quarter |url=https://www.omanobserver.om/article/40086/Business/omani-women-set-to-conquer-empty-quarter |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Oman Observer |language=en}}</ref> The team was supported by two cars for supplies driven by Tariq Al Zadjali (Omani) and Mark Vause-Jones (British) and filmmaker Matthew Milan from the United States. The expedition started from Al Hashman in the Dohafar Governate of Oman crossing through Burkana, Maqshin, and Al Sahma in [[Al Wusta Governorate (Oman)|Al Wusta]] Region, continued through Abu Al Tabool and Um Al Sameem, and ended at Ibri fort in the [[Al Dhahirah Governorate|Al Dhahira]] region of Oman. The total distance walked by the team was {{convert|758|km|abbr=on}} in 28 days, ending the expedition on 18 January 2019.<ref name=":0" />

In 2018, Deidre O'Leary and Kyle Knight crossed the Rub' al Khali from the South (the Saudi-Omani border) to the North (the Saudi-UAE border) on foot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://outdooruae.com/outdoor-activity/lifestyle-outdoor-activity/international-womens-day/ |title=International Women's Day, Interview with Deidre O'Leary |author=Aida Othman |publisher=Outdoor UAE}}</ref> This was the first known crossing within Saudi Arabia from south to north on foot through the highest sand dunes of the Rub Al' Khali. The pair crossed {{convert|300|km|abbr=on}} in 9&nbsp;days, 12&nbsp;hours, and 59&nbsp;minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/kyle-knight-deirde-oleary-crossing-saudi-empty-quarter-saudi-arabia-2018-01-14 |title=Kyle Knight, Deirde O'Leary - Crossing the Saudi Empty Quarter (Saudi Arabia) - 2018-01-14 |date=4 January 2018 |publisher=Fastest Known Time}}</ref>

In 2020, Italian extreme desert explorer Max Calderan completed a Rub' al Khali exploration on foot for the first time ever from west to east. He crossed {{convert|1100|km|abbr=on}} in 18 days, crossing the widest area of Rub' al Khali.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2020/02/04/calderan-walks-over-1000-km-in-rub-al-khali-desert_2789e78b-5916-470a-9ffa-40934a587934.html |title=Calderan walks over 1,000 km in Rub Al Khali desert |date=2020-02-04 |access-date=2020-02-27 |work=ANSAmed}}</ref>

[[File:Traces in The Empty Quarter.jpg|right|thumb|Route of Austrian-German expedition]]
In 2023, an Austrian-German expedition completed a southwest-to-northeast crossing of the Rub-al-Khali region on the Saudi Arabian side. The route was planned by Austrian Thomas Brandl-Ruttner, leading a team of eight experts in navigation, expedition logistics, and engineering. The team included geo-archaeologist Rudolf Dellmour, who was responsible for scientific documentation. Covering a {{Convert|1500|km|abbr=off|adj=on}} route through largely unexplored terrain, the team gathered and documented new geological and archaeological findings. Locations that had previously only been studied via satellite imagery were explored on-site for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mayr |first1=Tobias |last2=noe.ORF.at |date=2024-09-23 |title=Suche nach Spuren der ersten Menschen |url=https://noe.orf.at/stories/3262790/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=noe.ORF.at |language=de}}</ref>

In 2024, Richard Midwinter walked alone from Salalah, aiming to cross via Muqshin to Al Ain and on to Dubai, to raise awareness for women missed by the NHS breast cancer screening programme. He was carrying a rucksack and had no supply caches or support team. He was detained by Royal Oman Police at Abutubul, south of the Umm al Samim and interrogated under suspicion of espionage by the Internal Security Service, removed from the Rub al Khali, and left to continue his journey from Qarn al Alam. He walked under observation for two more days before deciding to hitchhike out, having walked about {{Convert|800|km}} in 29 days.<ref>{{cite book |last=Midwinter |first=Richard |date=7 February 2025 |title=Desert, Spies and NHS Lies |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DVC8XG1X/ |location= |publisher=Independent |pages=254, 264 |isbn=979-8335174756 }}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=This is an Amazon link to a self-published book. ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=February 2025}}

In 2025, Gavin Booth MBE and Adam Wilton MBE completed the first self-sufficient foot crossing of the Rub' al Khali, travelling circa {{Convert|780|km}} from [[As Sulayyil]] to [[Haradh]] via [[Ash Shafa|Ash Shalfa]] in 22 days. They hauled all their food, supplies, and water necessary for the journey in self-built carts, without any support or resupply caches.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beavis |first=Lauren |date=28 January 2025 |title=Adventurers make history pulling rickshaws over desert |work=The Metro |pages=6, 7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2025 |title=British adventurers complete first self-sufficient foot crossing of Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter |url=https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/648942/SAUDI-ARABIA/British-adventurers-complete-first-self-sufficient-foot-crossing-of-Saudi-Arabias-Empty-Quarter-nbsp |work=Saudi Gazette |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Beavis |first=Lauren |date=28 January 2025 |title=The pull of the desert |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mirror/20250128/282265261109600?srsltid=AfmBOor8IxvAzPtcbbc_A0oyQqO0eIeEReIzJe8gkMjSb6-YlmV33G-1 |work=The Mirror |page=28}}</ref>