Chasing Dunes....

[milkman]

Hi to everyone,
Well there may be a possibility with work that I'm shipping out to Abu Dahbi in Jan (with time in Dubai).

If I get over there I'm hoping to kit out and hit the sand dunes, at least pretending like I'm in the Dakar rally.

Is this a simple proposition? Or is it like AUS and you need permits for a lot of areas as so much is National Parked. From what I've read it should be possible.

Are there any courses run in the area to teach good sand riding/racing?
Would love to get into it.

Hope to do some trips when I get there (lets think positive)

Any info most appreciated

Steven.

[Stephano]

Originally Posted by milkman

Is this a simple proposition?

Steven
There is so much sand in the UAE that you basically just need to leave the outskirts of the cities and you can ride. That said, urban development is rapidly pushing inland and you now have to go a bit further than just a few years ago to reach some nice dunes.

There is also a lot more fencing along the roads nowadays which is good when it keeps camels off of them but bad when you want to cross on a bike.

No permits are required but you need to be cautious when passing near camel farms, stables, and villages in the desert: just the normal civility.

The map below will give you a rough idea of how far inland you have to go. Quite a lot of Dubai riders park up at Al Awir and head into the desert from there. The area inside the circle has some excellent riding (big dunes, sand tracks, grassy dunes, packed dirt, graded roads)

Dave’s Dune is a high dune which is very popular with locals and “Dune01” is an off-road area where you can hire quads but it’s very congested.

Sorry I have no specific knowledge about Abu Dhabi but it should be a similar story.

Honda do training days now and then but it’s nothing regular.

Basically, it is simple: you need a bike, the right safety gear (including water) and perhaps a trailer. The weather now is perfect.
Stephan

[Col Campbell]

Steven, as Stephan mentioned, there is so much sand here it is not funny, just head out of town, find a gap in the fence and go, it is as simple as that, from Abu Dhabi head out towads Liwa/Hameen direction and there are so many dunes, with the freedom to go in any direction you want to. Load up, pack your GPS and off you go, no permits, rules or tree huggers. There are a lot of people heading out of town with bikes and quads all the time, so it`ll be just a matter of hooking up with a few of them, and you`ll be sorted.

[milkman]

Thanks lads,
Sounds good, lets hope the transfer comes off, could use the adventure.
Sydney town is getting a bit stale for me at the moment.....

[Sparks59]

Originally Posted by milkman

Hi to everyone,
Well there may be a possibility with work that I'm shipping out to Abu Dahbi in Jan (with time in Dubai).

If I get over there I'm hoping to kit out and hit the sand dunes, at least pretending like I'm in the Dakar rally.

Is this a simple proposition? Or is it like AUS and you need permits for a lot of areas as so much is National Parked. From what I've read it should be possible.

Are there any courses run in the area to teach good sand riding/racing?
Would love to get into it.

Hope to do some trips when I get there (lets think positive)




Any info most appreciated

Steven.

I'm new to the HUBB, but have been in A/D for about 7 years, most of my weekends involve desert riding/driving with a few friends. let me know if you are still here and we'll meet up for a ride out.

[Stephano]

Originally Posted by Sparks59

let me know if you are still here and we'll meet up for a ride out.

Well, I'm still here... (for now).
Nice to meet your acquaintance.
Stephan