Dubai: An expat said he rode 1,003km on a scooter around 46 points of interest in all seven emirates, including up the UAE’s highest mountain, to mark the 46th National Day.
Lotfi Hamrouni, 49, who is Tunisian-British, clocked in 17.5 hours on a 300cc DusejaMoto scooter for his feat, which he believes has never been done before in the UAE.
Hamrouni, a motivational speaker and professional photographer who has lived in the UAE for 14 years, started his solo journey at The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel in Dubai at 3am on Friday.
After riding almost non-stop for 17.5 hours — pausing only for refuelling and a quick bite — he returned to the Dubai resort at 8.30pm the same day. The UAE marked National Day on Saturday.
On his trip, Hamrouni went up the 1,934-metre Jabal Al Jais, UAE’s highest peak in Ras Al Khaimah, and the 1,249-metre Jabal Hafeet in Al Ain, among 44 other locations. Hamrouni vista’s included the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Sharjah Fort, Ajman fish market, Umm Al Quwain Aqua Park, and the new Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi.
Hamrouni, who is an experienced rider, had said while starting his UAE scooter challenge: “I don’t want to see anyone in my [scooter’s] mirrors. I must stay in absolute focus from the very beginning. I have a long way to go and I need to be free from any distractions. I will have enough to come on the road ahead.”
He described “eerie” views of landmarks that were not lit up by the usual electric lights, faintly visible at dawn. Hamrouni was also met with ‘you have come up this mountain on that scooter’ reactions.
The journey was glitch-free — for man and machine — and upon his return Hamrouni told supporters: “With your passion, you can make the impossible happen.”
