At first glance, the deserts of the United Arab Emirates may seem uniform, stretching endlessly in soft waves of sand. But look closer, and a vibrant palette emerges. Rust-red sands reveal the presence of iron, brilliant white dunes shimmer with calcium carbonates, and greenish-grey tones trace back to ancient gabbro rocks. Each hue is a brushstroke in the natural story of the land, shaped by minerals, time, and desert winds.
For soil scientists, these colors are more than striking scenery; they are vital clues. The desert's palette tells us about the minerals hidden beneath the surface, the passage of time, and the natural forces that sculpted the landscape. Using the Munsell Soil Color System, experts describe soils through three dimensions: hue (the basic shade), value (how light or dark it appears), and chroma (the intensity of the color). This universal “language of color” allows scientists to understand how soils formed, how old they are, and what they can support.
The colors of the UAE’s deserts are therefore not just beautiful to the eye; they are windows into the land’s history and its hidden potential to sustain life.