Abu Dhabi: The 35th Gulf News Fun Drive will kick off at Al Fathiya in Liwa at 7.30am Friday morning.
The eight-hour drive, which will go through the Liwa desert, was completely booked out with over 800 cars and over 2,500 people registered for the annual two-day event.
Participants will meet at the flag-off site at Hameem Road at 6am for breakfast and having received the route details and safety briefings by the marshals, line up for the flag-off.
Gulf News Fun Drive is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a brand new challenging route through the famous Liwa dunes, testing off-road enthusiasts’ desert driving skills in a picturesque setting.
Having completed the route, the vehicles will start to arrive at their destination at the base of Moreeb Dune in the Liwa area by 4pm to look forward to an evening of fun and games at the fully-equipped campsite set up for them. The evening’s line-up of entertainment includes a BBQ dinner, camel rides, circus shows, a magic show for children, a DJ, live bands and a belly dancing show.
After a good night’s rest, participants will wake up to a lavish breakfast on Saturday morning after which they will depart the campsite with memories to last them a lifetime.
The Fun Drive attracts people from across the UAE and even neighbouring countries, as it provides a safe and exciting environment for family and friends to spend time together. It is estimated that had the event not been limited in numbers, over 2,000 cars would have participated in it this year.
So how did it begin?
During the 1980s in the UAE, off-roading, though an aspirational adventure for many, was confined to the few who had a 4X4 vehicle at their disposal and the confidence of venturing into an as-yet largely unexplored desert terrain. With GPS technology still some time away, it needed experienced off-road drivers to venture into the great sandscapes of the UAE.
In 1986, Gulf News came up with the concept of Fun Drive, with the objective of providing residents in the region an unparalleled opportunity to experience the beauty and magnificence of the desert, in a safe and organised way.
The first Fun Drive was a day event held in March 1986 and featured 75 four-wheel drives.
By 1989, the event had captured a permanent audience and its growing popularity prompted Gulf News to add another dimension to the experience — an overnight stay in the desert with entertainment and activities for the entire family. The Fun Drive thus turned into a two-day event and the change was received with such overwhelming enthusiasm by people that a restriction on the numbers of participating vehicles had to put into place to streamline the logistics of the event. Some years, Fun Drive has been held twice a year.
A mammoth exercise in planning, organisaton and implementation, Fun Drive has its organisers put in tremendous effort year after year to keep the event fresh and exciting while ensuring everyone’s safety.
The growth of Fun Drive has been made possible due to the support of a number of organisations and sponsors. This year’s sponsors are, Al Futtaim Motors (Toyota), Pringles, BF Goodrich, Dubai Duty Free, Total, Orient Travel, Ritz by Danube, Mentos, Fine, De Longhi, Wildcraft, The Off Road Company (TORC), Byrne, Emirates Water, Jabel Ali Hotel and resorts, Mafraq Hotel, Liwa Hotel, Medeor Hospital, Total, Amity University and the support of Al Gharbia Sports Club and International Automobile Touring Club.
