Unless you’re related to Indiana Jones and don’t mind trashing your 4×4, dune-bashing in this city is generally reserved for desert safari tour providers (and those local guys often spotted tyre-deep in the sand, shovel in hand). But for those who want to get behind the wheel and conquer the dunes, off-roading companies such as English-owned Nomad 4×4 provide one-day and five-day courses for owners of 4WDs to hone their skills.
In an effort to test our driving prowess (and the patience of the instructors), we decided to head out one afternoon to join Nomad 4×4 on an off-roading trip through the dunes. Upon reaching the agreed meeting spot at the agreed time, things got off to a rocky start: the convoy we were supposed to be following left without us. Nevertheless, we soon caught up to the vehicles on the highway and we zipped along to a small village near Big Red, where we left our cars (and our trepidation) behind us.
If you’re worried about safety, you’ll be pleased to know that Nomad 4×4 is kitted out with all the latest gear and vehicle recovery equipment: think winch cables, walkie-talkies and tyre gauges that automatically release the air in the tyres to the desired level. Once the technicalities were out of the way, we hopped into the pilot’s seat and we were off.
Having attended an off-roading course many years ago, we found that on this occasion, there was little in the way of a ‘lesson’ or direction given – this was more of a trial-and-error situation. At one point, we found ourselves mid-slope pointing straight into a ditch – we freaked out before being told not to steer on declines, instead letting the car do all the work.
Nasty surprises aside, we glided through the dunes in the Toyota FJ Cruiser like a hovercraft, dodging vegetation and small trees. We approached a sideways incline with hesitation and ended up stopping the car and getting bogged down in half a metre of sand (which, it seems, is the wrong thing to do). The reaction of our instructor was somewhat discomforting, but, along with another 4×4, he managed to recover the vehicle like a pro by employing the winch cable. We were a little rattled, but the instructor assured us the only way forward was to ‘jump back on the horse’.
All in all, the off-roading course is a fun, unusual experience – you’ll enjoy it if you like to live on the edge. We’re by no means wimpy, but at this stage we think we’ll stick with the professional desert safaris until Nomad 4×4 has polished things up a touch.
Dhs750 for a one-day course; Dhs2,500 for five-day course. Nomad 4×4 (04 450 2429).
Abu Dhabi dune-bashing with the pros
Nervous about taking the wheel yourself? Try a desert safari with one of these local operators…
Arabian Adventures
A less hair-raising experience than that of its rivals, this family-oriented company offers a sundowner desert safari package that includes the usual dinner and belly-dancing combo.
Dhs350 per person. Arabian Adventures (02 691 1711).
Desert Rangers
Sit back and enjoy a rollercoaster ride as you cruise the dunes at break-neck speed. The Desert Rangers fleet boasts top-end Toyota Land Cruisers, each are equipped with a roll cage for added peace of mind.
Dhs295 per person. Desert Rangers (04 357 2233).
Arabian Nights
Tired of the Abu Dhabi scenery? Take a Hatta tour instead, which will see you drive past the Hajar Mountains and into the wadis for some bashing, before visiting the Hatta rock pools. You’ll then stop off for lunch at the Hatta Fort Hotel.
Dhs320 per person, minimum four people. Arabian Nights (04 321 6565).
