Register for overnight Gulf News Fun Drive here

Registration for the 35th Gulf News Fun Drive opens Monday and participants can register online at www.gnfundrive.com.

Participants who are unable to register online can register in person at the Gulf News offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from Monday to Thursday.

Being held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, bookings for the popular annual event to be held on January 15 and 16 are subject to confirmation and preference will be given to Gulf News subscribers.

Payment will be refunded if the entry is not accepted. 

Supported by Al Futtaim Motors, the eight-hour drive will run entirely through the Western Region, starting from Al Fathiya on Friday, January 15, at 7.30am.

The entry fee is Dh375 per adult and Dh200 per child under 12. Children under four can enter free.

All registrations and entry cancellations will be accepted only until January 3 and no new entry or cancellation will be allowed after that.

The list of confirmed participants will be published in Gulf News on January 5. Fun Drive numbers will be assigned and a mail with the Fun Drive number will go out to confirmed participants by 8am on Tuesday, January 5.

Confirmed participants will have to collect the Fun Drive Information pack with the Fun Drive numbers and manual from the Gulf News offices in Dubai from January 6 to 8 between 9am and 7pm. In Abu Dhabi, the packs can be collected on January 6 and 7 from 9am to 4pm, while in Al Ain the timings are from 9am to 11am on January 6.

Payments for additional passengers will also be accepted only from January 6 to 8.

The Fun Drive Disclaimer, with original signatures of all participants will have to be handed in when collecting the pack. This pack will not be issued unless the Disclaimer has been handed in.

According to the Fun Drive itinerary, participants will leave on an eight-hour drive on the morning of Friday and reach the overnight camp, set up at the foot of the spectacular Moreeb Dune, which is the start of the Empty Quarter.

Participants will spend the night at the camp and leave for their homes after breakfast the next day.

After arriving at the starting point at 6am, the participants will park in the designated spaces, walk over to the check-in counters to complete formalities, have breakfast and collect their various goodies.

Goodies will include one case of water per car, one goody bag per car and lunch boxes for all passengers in the car. After that they will deflate tyres and line up for departure.

The lead car will be flagged off at 7.30am and convoys will follow. After a thrilling day-long drive, the first vehicles will start arriving at the campsite by 4pm.

Amenities at the camp include community tents, portaloos, showers, food and beverages. There will also be an entertainment programme which includes camel rides, circus shows, a magic show for children, DJ, live band and also a belly dance show. There will also be plenty of activities at the sponsors’ tents.

After the overnight stay, participants will leave for their homes after breakfast, which will be served between 7am and 9 am.

More than 3,000 people are expected to participate for the annual event, which was launched in 1986.