Only three British adventurers attempted to cross the Empty Quarter . Tracing the exploits of Islamic explorer of the last 70 years Thesiger . The aim of the expedition was to retrace the footsteps of one of the legends of desert exploration , British adventurer Wilfred Thesiger , who in the 1940s on two separate trips charted vast tracts of the Empty Quarter -- or Rub ' al Khali as it is known in Arabic -- Duo could not afford camels so pulled a home-made cart . The area has been transformed beyond recognition in many parts since Thesiger 's adventure .
Only three British adventurers attempted to cross the Empty Quarter . Tracing the exploits of Islamic explorer of the last 70 years Thesiger . Duo could not afford camels so pulled a home-made cart . The area has been transformed beyond recognition in many parts since Thesiger 's adventure .