Why does running water shape much of the Arabian Desert more strongly than wind?

In the Arabian Desert, the intermittent action of running water is more effective than wind at shaping the landscape. While wind is a significant agent of erosion—responsible for the formation of sand dunes and the grooving of rocks through sandblasting—its power to excavate basins is often exaggerated.123

The dominance of water as an erosional force is primarily due to the impact of infrequent but destructive [floods]. When heavy rains occur, surface runoff carries vast loads of sediment through drainage systems known as wadis. These watercourses have historically carved the terrain, and their ancient systems were responsible for depositing the extensive gravel plains found across the region. Approximately two-thirds of the Arabian Desert is drained by these complete wadi systems, which continue to modify the land surface more substantially than wind-driven processes.1