Photos: Gulf News Fun Drive through the years

See this black and white picture of the Gulf News Fun Drive in 1987. This year, the Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive is back for its 39th edition and is being held at Tilal Swaihan, Al Ain in an all new format. 2020 is the 34th year of the Fun Drive but since we have run two events in certain years, we are on our 39th edition. Welcome! This year’s Drive will be a ‘Loop’ which means that it will start and end at the same location. This will also be the first time that an overnighter is being held in the Al Ain region and the route is brand new and wait - very challenging as well. For the record – this year’s route has been designed by Route Director John Spiller and Deputy Route Director Mohamed Saeed Al Shamsi in co-ordination with the Al Ain Municipality.

This is a picture of Gulf News Fun Drive in 1988 taken by our photographer. The first Gulf News Fun Drive was held in 1986 when off-road driving was a leisure activity, enjoyed by a limited number of residents. The first year, 75 vehicles registered. The desert was said to have been a mystery then and not many dared to venture into it. Gulf News came up with the concept of the Fun Drive that year with the prime objective to give residents of UAE and the region an opportunity to experience the desert.

This is a picture of some fun that happened in 1990 Gulf News Fun Drive. Do not miss the musicians at play at the Drive. For those new to Gulf News Fun Drive, here is a bit of information. The first Fun Drive was a Day Drive only and was held on 28th March, 1986 with only 75 vehicles. So far we have done 7 Day Drives, 27 Overnighters, 1 Abu Dhabi Day Drive and 3 Friday Fun Drives, thus making 39 with the next one, that will once again have 750 plus 4WDs participating.

1991 : Cars lining up for the Fun Drive. For the record the Fun Drive is the only world-wide event with a ‘civilian’ convoy of nearly 1000 cars. This record remains unbroken. • The Fun Drive has attracted interest from overseas media flown in by the Tourism authorities to promote the UAE. It has been covered by UK scribes writing for the Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Independent, Gatwick News, 4x4 Driver and on TV by Jeremy Clarkson and the Motorworld Team

1991 Camp site. The dancer and all the entertainment on camp

The 1991 Gulf News Fun Drive camp site

Camp site next year in 1992. See how the camps were laid out.

Cars lining up for Flag off in 1992. Every year the Fun Drive event attracts participants from countries like Japan, Saudi, India, Kuwait who plan their holidays around the Fun Drive.

1993 : Breakfast on full swing at the camp site, The Fun Drive is a representation of adventure, camaraderie, communal living within the country and also the magnificence of the desert that is so very unique.

1993 : Cars parked at camp site. The Fun Drive is not a rally or race, but an event of fun for the whole family. It is an opportunity to venture, without worry, into the desert and enjoy an outdoors weekend, when every possible amenity is provided. It is an event of companionship, where over two thousand persons stay at the camp in a congenial and secure atmosphere and savour the delights of five-star catering, continuous live entertainment and communal living .

This is a 1996 Fun Drive picture taken from our archives. The 2020 Fun Drive, is being in Tilal Swaihan in the Al Ain region in a new format. It is going to be a ‘Loop’ which means that it will start and end at the same location. This will also be the first time that an Overnighter is being held in the Al Ain region and the route therefore is brand new and very challenging. It has been designed by Route Director John Spiller and Deputy Route Director Mohamed Saeed Al Shamsi with invaluable inputs from Al Ain Municipality and promises to be among the best routes in Fun Drive history, with plenty of challenges for participants.

1996 Fun Drive Flag Off. In 1996 two Fun Drive events took place. First on April 12 was a one-day desert safari with 400 vehicles and 700 participants took part in the 12th Gulf News fun drive-held for the first time in Abu Dhabi starting point Gulf Hotel and ending point, the Al Ain InterContinental Hotel. The second one was held on December 12, 1996 Over 750 four-wheel drive cars participated in the 13th Gulf News Overnight Fun Drive starting from Gulf News office and ending at Jebel Ali Hotel.

A beautiful picture of some dune bashing in 1997. In 1997 also two Fun Drives were held. The first one was held on March 21, 1997. The Ladies Only Fun Drive with 150 four-wheel vehicles participated, started from Gulf News office and ended at Nad Al Sheba, Dubai. The second one was held on December 11, 1997. It was a Gulf News Overnight Fun Drive with 750 four-wheel drive started from Gulf News office and ended at Inter-Continental Hotel in Al Ain.

Checking the tyres are fine. This is a 1998 Fun Drive picture.

1999 picture. The Drive was held on February 04, 1999. The 15th Gulf News Overnight Fun Drive with 750 four-wheel vehicles started from Gulf News office to Hatta Fort Hotel.

This is a 2000 Gulf News Overnighter picture held on January 27. More than 2,800 participants started off from Gulf News office to Kempinski Hotel in Ajman.

This is a camp site picture. People getting a glimpse of the news early morning while the young boy tucks into something for breakfast. In 2001, there were two Fun Drives held. October 19, 2001 was a day drive of Friday Fun Drive with 350 four-wheel vehicles started off from Nad Al Sheba Club to Kempinski Hotel in Ajman. January 25, 2001 Gulf News Overnight Fun Drive with more than 2,600 participants started off from Gulf News office to Mafraq Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Do not miss this beautiful picture of the 2009 Fun Drive. For the record, the Fun Drive this year was held on February 06. It was the 28th Gulf News Fun drive with more than 2,000 participated in 450 cars. A one-day event is started from The Sevens Club on Al Ain Road in the morning and end with a barbecue at the picturesque Hatta Fort Hotel.

2015 Dune bashing.

2016 fun drive route.

And its time for 2020. Passing the key. See you at this year's Fun Drive.