Wadi Rahabah, nestled within the rugged Hajar Mountains of the northern United Arab Emirates, is a striking showcase of the region’s geological and geomorphological diversity. The wadi which is a dry valley or river with intermediate flow that runs exclusively during the rainy season, cuts through ancient ophiolitic and sedimentary rocks that record the dramatic uplift and collision between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, events that shaped much of the UAE’s mountainous landscape.

What makes Wadi Rahabah particularly unique is its network of caves and rock shelters, formed through millennia of weathering and erosion, which reveal fascinating details about groundwater movement and karstic processes in arid environments. The steep limestone cliffs and rugged terrain have also made it a popular destination for rock climbers, who are drawn to its challenging routes and breathtaking scenery. Beyond its adventure appeal, Wadi Rahabah stands as a living geological archive, where every exposed layer and fracture tells a story of Earth’s dynamic evolution in this corner of Arabia.

The Wadi forms a drainage basis with an approximate area of 12.42 km². The source of the main channel of the Wadi Rahabah is located approximately 1,350 m altitude on the western slope of Jabal Rahabah (1,543 m), one of the highest mountains in the country.

A short distance from the wall of the great cliff that forms the western slope of Jabal Rahabah, are the ruins of an old village, with numerous dry stone constructions, and there is a small spring.

The name of the wadi appears with alternative names, which most commonly are:

• Wadi Rahabah

• Wadi Rahbah

• Wadi Rahba

• Wadi Al Rahba

• Wādī Raḩabah

• Wādī Raḩbah

• Wadi Ruhaba

In the National Atlas of the United Arab Emirates it is identified with the spelling Wādī Raḩbah.