Petrogypsids

Petrogypsids have a subsoil horizon within 1 meter from the soil surface that has accumulated so much gypsum over time that it has become cemented (petrogypsic horizon), forming a hardpan. Most of the Petrogypsids have a sandy, but a few have a loamy texture. Petrogypsids have little potential for irrigated agriculture due to the limited depth of soil to the hardpan and soil gypsum content (AD124).

Petrogypsids cover 263,388 hectares, or about 3.8% of the UAE.