The Sharqiya Sands[1] (Arabic: ٱلرِّمَال ٱلشَّرْقِيَّة, romanized: Ar-Rimāl Ash-Sharqiyyah, formerly known as Wahiba Sands (رِمَال وَهِيْبَة or رَمْلَة آل وَهِيْبَة)) is a region of desert in Oman.[2][3] The region was named for the Bani Wahiba tribe.[4] Divided between the northern and southern governorates in the Eastern Region. The area is defined by a boundary of 180 kilometers (110 mi) north to south and 80 kilometers (50 mi) east to west,[5] with an area of 12,500 square kilometers (4,800 sq mi).[6] The desert has been of scientific interest since a 1986 expedition by the Royal Geographical Society documented the diversity of the terrain, the flora and fauna, noting 16,000 invertebrates as well as 200 species of other wildlife, including avifauna.[5] They also documented 150 species of native flora.