What did Abu Dhabi look like millions of years ago?

Millions of years ago, Abu Dhabi featured vast river systems, savannahs, and grasslands, supporting diverse wildlife like elephants and crocodiles.

How do fossils from Abu Dhabi show climate change?

Fossils from Abu Dhabi provide direct evidence of dramatic past climate shifts that led to significant changes in the environment and animal extinction.

When was the UAE under the sea according to fossil evidence?

Fossil and geological evidence suggests the UAE was under the sea approximately 100 million years ago.

Home / Science / Abu Dhabi: From Desert Sands to Ancient Rivers

Abu Dhabi: From Desert Sands to Ancient Rivers

14 Jan

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Summary

Ancient Abu Dhabi once featured rivers, savannahs, and diverse wildlife.
Fossils show the UAE was submerged under the sea around 100 million years ago.
Fossil evidence directly demonstrates climate change and extinction events.

Abu Dhabi: From Desert Sands to Ancient Rivers

The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi offers a 13.8-billion-year journey, highlighting ancient fossils that depict a lush, riverine landscape once present in the emirate. These findings challenge the perception of the UAE as solely a desert nation, revealing evidence of giants like mammoths and crocodiles that roamed the land millions of years ago.

Geological evidence indicates that around 100 million years ago, the region was submerged beneath the sea, with marine remains still found today. Subsequent geological shifts formed the Hajar mountains between 95 and 70 million years ago. By approximately 7 million years ago, Al Dhafra was characterized by vast river systems supporting diverse fauna.

These ancient fossils are crucial indicators of climate change, demonstrating how environmental shifts can lead to extinction. The museum educates visitors on Earth's climatic oscillations through time, including recent global warming trends, emphasizing the importance of caring for the planet for a better future.