The Zaita Desert is located in the north of Saudi Arabia, on the Hisma Plateau in Tabuk.
Ringed by sandstone hills rising hundreds of meters above the ground, the desert is the product of millions of years of erosion, with sharp, craggy peaks rising like tent tops before giving way to vibrant yellow sands below.
The stunning mountains and rock formations set against the undulating dunes of Zaita have become an attractive tourist destination, almost unmatched for their lonely, haunting ruggedness.
This photograph of the Zaita Desert’s mountains, taken by Saudi photographer Sami Ba-Humaidan, is part of the “Colors of Saudi” photo competition. •