What springs to mind on hearing the word ‘desert’? Crazy temperatures, camels, endless sand dunes? Well, what we think of at TOAD is an oasis of fun under the sun. Road trips, sporting activities, dune bashing, hot air ballooning – you’ll find it all here waiting in the sand.
Did you know that the Rub’ al Khali, or the Empty Quarter, covers 650,000 square kilometers of land, which makes it the largest sand desert in the world? Or that some of the archaeological sites in the desert date back to the third millennium BC? Or that Fossil Rock near Sharjah is full of fossils of sea creatures because the desert was an ocean millions of years ago? It is the unmistakable air of mystery about the desert that makes it all the more exciting to explore.
With the prospect of adventure to be found in every nook and cranny – if ever there was fun to be had in the desert, it is here in the UAE. And in true TOAD style, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of everything that you can get up to in and around the largest sand pit in the world.
Desert safari
If you think the sand dunes are a sight to behold during the day, imagine how magical they can be under the stars. Even more in a specially created Bedouin tent with modern amenities for your comfort, but giving you a great feel of old Emirati culture and lifestyle. Start the adventure with activities including sandboarding, dune bashing, camel and horse riding, watching a falcon show or getting a henna tattoo. A word of advice though, whatever you do, do not venture into the desert alone. Always get in touch with a tour operator – and there are many offering all sorts of packages.
Al Badeyah Eyes Tourism offers an overnight safari at Dhs350 per person for adults and Dhs300 for children between four and 12. The adventure kicks off at 2pm and lasts until 9.30am the following day. There’s even a separate play area for kids and the chance to be photographed in traditional garb. Enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner before retiring for the night in a private tent. They also have a pick-up and drop-off service for the Abu Dhabi city area.
www.abet-uae.com (02 445 2644).
Abu Dhabi Adventure Tours provide a range of packages for intrepid explorers. The overnight Abu Dhabi night safari involves a ride in a 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser for a bit of dune bashing, a camel ride, an evening barbecue with a belly dancer and shisha once camp has been made for the night. A bit more for the grown-ups this one. There is an initial cost of Dhs850 for the hire of a car and driver, then the cost is per person based on the number of people sharing the car.
www abudhabiadventure.com (055 357 0011).
Dune bashing
Take a course in off-road driving with some experienced advanced driving trainers to get that adrenaline pumping. The best place to do it is in the sprawling dunes of the Empty Quarter conveniently situated on Abu Dhabi’s border with Saudi Arabia, a 200km drive away from the city. As with everything in the desert, do not drive alone. It is safer and more fun to do it in a group.
Emirates Driving Institute in Dubai has a one-day long desert driving course for Dhs1,100. You will end up with a desert driving course kit, a comprehensive manual of desert driving and a certificate of attendance.
To register contact Rukaya at rukaya@edi-uae.com. www.edi-uae.com (04 263 1100).
Nomad 4×4 L.L.C Dubai is another off road academy that boasts a modern fleet of 4x4s fitted for maximum safety. They offer a comprehensive course which includes survival techniques in the desert, information about the topography of the desert and all the likely situations you can expect to find yourself in while off-roading.
www.nomad4x4.com (04 450 2429).
Tel Moreeb is a must-do if you’re a motorsport enthusiast. At over 300 metres high, this is considered by many to be the tallest sand dune in the world. While there is a well-established motorsport event here in February, if you’re not in a hurry to compete, get out that quad bike and get a taste of what it’s like. Head out to Al Gharbia, the western region of Abu Dhabi, if motorsport is your thing. At the base of the dune there is a camp for competitors and spectators with a great atmosphere and loud music to counter the din of the engines. The best way to organise a trip to Tel Moreeb is to get in touch with a tour operator, such as Net Tours Abu Dhabi, and ask them to create a special package for you consisting of motorsport activities on the hill.
www.nettours.ae (02 679 4658).
Road trips
It isn’t for nothing that Steppan Wolfe urges you to ‘get your motor running, get out on the highway’ in his hit song ‘Born To Be Wild’! A road trip is one of the best ways to seek adventure. Here are some good trips to take from Abu Dhabi.
Jebel Maleiha or the Fossil Rock is a great camping sight, especially so if you’re up for the added adventure of exploring around for fossils. Millions of years ago the desert we see now was actually an ocean – home to all sorts of marine life. Proof of that can be easily found on the slopes of Fossil Rock, which is a treasure trove of fossils of shells and sea creatures formed millions of years ago. Fossil Rock can be found three hours from Abu Dhabi and the usual desert adventures of dune driving, ATV riding and hiking can also be found here.
Hatta Mountains are a spectacular sight and a great road trip to take from Abu Dhabi. Hatta is 281km north-east of Abu Dhabi and the drive itself will take you about three hours, but expect to see some beautiful
sights on the way. Unending sand dunes, the occasional lush green oasis and, our favourite desert sight, picture postcard vistas of camels. Other than the mountains themselves, Hatta is great for its weather, which is cool and dry, as opposed to the scorching temperatures and intense humidity we often have here in Abu Dhabi.
Historical sites
Interested in learning the tale of our region? Check out these historical sites and monuments within driving distance of Abu Dhabi.
Al Ain’s forts and castles are always a great way to find out about the history and culture of the country. There are also some famous archaeological sites and old watch towers that are open for public viewing. The forts are relatively new – most were built during the 19th century – Meyzad Fort and Al Murayjib from the early 1800s being among the oldest. And while you’re there we recommend a trip to the Al Ain National Museum as well. The archaeological and ethnographic sections are interesting to view.
Archaeological excavations of Umm al-Nar Island not far from Abu Dhabi give an insight into the lives and times of the earliest residents of the country. This small in-shore island is also the site of the UAE’s first oil refinery. A whole period of the history of Southern Arabia gets its name from the island. The Umm al-Nar period lasted from 2700 BC to 2000 BC.
Hot-air ballooning
Wouldn’t riding a flying carpet be the ultimate desert adventure? A hot-air balloon is not quite the same, but it is certainly magical. The view from 3,000 feet above the sands is breathtaking to say the least, and if you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a trail of wandering camels, then your flight has been all the more worth it. The best time to go on a hot-air balloon is at dawn. It is the coolest time of the day and the light is great for photography. This magical adventure comes at a price. Be prepared to shell out at least Dhs950 per person for one hour.
Balloon Adventures, Dubai, www.ballooning.ae (04 285 4949).
Weekend getaways
If you haven’t already noticed, one of the best things about living in Abu Dhabi is the number of places you can get away to when the weekend comes around. Here are our favourite places to go to.
The Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in the Liwa Desert at the edge of the Empty Quarter is a luxurious oasis in the middle of nowhere. With top-notch facilities the mystical location and its ambience will make you feel like you’re walking straight from the pages of Arabian Nights. Only 200km away from Abu Dhabi, this is the ideal retreat for anyone wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
www.qasralsarab.anantara.com (02 886 2088).
The Arabian Nights Village is perfect if you want to experience traditional Emirati life and disconnect from the rest of the world for a couple of days. There are no televisions and internet is available only for emergencies. Sound-proofed generators take care of all your air conditioning needs. There are three types of room to choose from: traditional mud houses of the desert, the original houses of Emirati sea-dwellers made from palm fronds, and woven tents. The word that links all three varieties of accommodation is simply ‘beautiful’.
www.arabiannights.ae (02 676 9990).
Bab al Shams Resort is another beautiful resort found in the middle of the desert. What is unique here is its low lying architecture, much like that of an Arabian fort, and its soft sand dunes. It is two hours away from Abu Dhabi and fully equipped with five star amenities. Rooms cost upwards of Dhs950 a night.
www.meydanhotels.com/babalshams (04 381 3231).
Sports
There can be no doubt that the UAE is a sport-loving country. Just look at the number of international and regional sporting events that take place here: from the ever-popular club football games, to international cricket matches, tennis, F1 – you name it, we’ve got it. Here’s our list of fun sporting activities to get into right in the desert.
Golf
Tee off on a golf course made entirely of sand. And don’t be fooled into believing this is going to be an easy course to negotiate. This championship-length Par 71 has its share of tricky Par 3s, 4s and 5s. Its putting surfaces are also among the best in the world. The Al Ghazal Golf Club boasts of a 30-bay driving range, a fully equipped teaching academy and a licensed clubhouse. Situated near the Abu Dhabi International Airport, it is easily accessible for those living on and off the island.
Al Ghazal Golf Club www.alghazalgolf.ae (02 575 8040).
Camel racing
There are some sports that are simply better (and safer!) to be a spectator of, rather than having a go yourself. And camel racing is definitely one of them. If you haven’t already made that trip to the camel races, do it now. The Al Wathba Camel Race Track is situated 45km east of Abu Dhabi on the way to Al Ain. Entry to the races is free, and one of the greatest attractions is to watch the robot jockeys on the camels.
The Camel Racing Federation at Al Wathba (02 5839200).
Skiing and sandboarding
Yes, you read that correctly – skiing in the desert! Not on the artificial ski slope (which is also great) but on the towering sand dunes. Another great sporting adventure awaits you at the edge of the Empty Quarter in Liwa Oasis. Huge dunes, lumbering hundreds of metres above land make it the sand-skier’s paradise. But if you’re a new skier and not comfortable sashaying down such high dunes on skis or a sandboard, don’t worry. There are smaller, gentler slopes across the Abu Dhabi desert for you to polish up your skills. Light clothing, sunglasses, a hat and lots of sunscreen are what you should have on before setting off for a session on the sand and the best time to do it is early in the morning. You don’t want to be prancing through the hot sand when the sun is out.
Arabian Adventures operate tours to the Empty Quarter. They’re great because they create a bespoke package for you with exactly all those activities that you want to be a part of. They have listed a generic package for the Empty Quarter on their website and have not quoted a price, since that will be determined by what you choose to do.
www.arabian-adventures.com (04 303 4888).
The essential desert survival kit
We live in one of the most difficult to negotiate geographical terrains. And seeking adventure or not, a desert survival kit is something we should be prepared with at all times as having one could be the difference between life and death. Here’s a check-list of must-haves:
• Plenty of liquids – water, juice or anything else you might want to carry.
• Enough food supplies for the journey.
• Insect repellent – either spray or lotion.
• A tube or two of high SPF sunscreen.
• A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
• A windbreaker/rain jacket.
• A whistle to identify your location at night.
• A couple of sets of extra clothes
• A full first aid kit including anti-analgesics, plasters and anti-inflammatory balms/gels.
• Toolbox of essentials – hammer, screw-driver, pliers, flashlight with extra batteries, a box of matches, a pocket knife.
• A strong rope in case you need to pull your car out of the sand.
• Make sure your mobile has a fully charged battery and sufficient credit.
• Bags to collect waste.
Desert dos and don’ts
There are some things you should and shouldn’t do in the desert, and while we are all aware of these, it is always handy to have a list in front of you when you are out there tackling the outdoors.
Do
• Make sure you have a fully loaded petrol tank before setting out in your car and that you have a spare tyre in the boot.
• Keep a map of the area you are planning to visit in the car.
• Carry a compass and learn how to use it before the journey.
• Drink lots of water.
• Wear light and loose clothes that cover and protect your arms and legs from the sun.
• Tell friends and family where you are going and how long you intend to be gone for.
Don’t
• Venture out into the desert alone. It is always advisable to go in a group.
• Do anything that compromises the landscape or the eco-system in any way.
• Leave any rubbish behind.
• Wear trainers for walking. The sand will get inside them and will be difficult to remove. Sandals or boots are a better option.
• Carry anything that is not essential.
