New research reveals that Arabia experienced five times more rainfall 400 years ago compared to today, highlighting the importance of considering past climate patterns for flood preparedness and future water management in the Middle East. The region was much wetter over the past 2,000 years and resembled a vegetated savannah. As major development projects reshape the landscape, enhanced climate resilience and disaster preparedness are crucial to address the growing threat of extreme weather events. The study used sediment cores from a deep-sea brine pool to uncover the accurate record of Late Holocene rainfall trends.