ABSTRACT
Although we now have a fairly good general picture regarding the geomorphology of Saudi Arabia there are still large gaps in our knowledge. The few geomorphologists who have worked in the Kingdom have, for the most part, been involved in reconnaissance surveys, and much of the early work was actually done by oil geologists for whom the geomorphology was of secondary interest (Fourniguet et al., 1985). Thus, there is a good deal known about the oil-rich Eastern Region, particularly the karst, and much less about the Shield. Sand and sand dune research has obvious attractions but in a way this had led to a neglect of plate tectonics, basic geomorphological processes, particularly rates of processes, the volcanic landforms associated with the harraat and the steep fluvial systems draining the Asir escarpment. Benchmark process studies are, however, extremely problematic. The terrain is harsh, off-road travel sometimes impossible, the mapping base, until recently, poor, and it is sometimes unwise to leave equipment unattended.
