A man walking his camels across the Liwa desert, some 250km west of the Gulf emirate of Abu Dhabi, during the Liwa 2016 Moreeb Dune International Festival on Tuesday.

The Moreeb Dune, one of the highest sand hills in the world, has an altitude of about 300m, with slopes of up to 50 degrees.

Because of its steep slopes, the 1.6km-long dune has been given the Arabic name Tel Moreeb - meaning "scary hill".

Yet the nine-day festival attracts numerous people from around the Gulf region. They participate in a variety of races (cars, motorbikes, falcons, camels and horses), as well as other activities.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, and organised by Al Gharbia Sports Club, the Moreeb Dune festival started on Dec 31 and ends tomorrow.