If it's dune bashing, it has to be Gulf News Fun Drive
Over 800 four-wheel vehicles are revved up for the region’s biggest off-roading event
The 38th Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive flagged off with much fan-fare on Friday. The Fun Drive took off from Al Fathiya in Hameem road, the starting point, to the finishing line, the Moreeb dunes at the beginning of the Empty Quarter.
Over 800 four-wheel vehicles are revved up for the region’s biggest off-roading event. For the uninitiated, the Moreeb dune at Empty Quarter is the highest dune in the UAE offering a breath-taking backdrop.
Day 2
10.09am
The desert fun is not over yet. It's Day 2 of the event and participants are raving.
"This is the first time we actually ventured and participated in the fun drive...For such a hugecrowd, the event was well organised," said Priya Kapoor.
Her husband Pradeep said: "I've been driving for 20+ years, and it's my first time to join a desert fun drive. We've done some camping and all but not full-fledge (desert outing). "I was not sure initially if could complete (the drive), but I'm thankful for the team," Pradeep added.
Kapoor quipped: "Seriously amazed, Gulf News really organised it well. Thank You."
9.45am
Awesome, amazing, unbelievable.
Those are some of the words used by the participants raving about their desert experience as part of the Gulf News Fun Drive.
8.39am
The Fun Drive participants are off to another day out in the dunes.
8.15am
Surrounded by the undulating sand plains and rises, participants gather for a quiet breakfast. Everyone loves the food and the camping arrangements.
7.45am
After breakfast, kids explore the desert on foot.
7.15am
The desert on the edge of the Empty Quarter is awesome. Weather in the open desert is cold at this time of the year. The Fun Drive participants are off to another day out in the dunes to the final destination today.
6.30am
It's breakfast time in the desert, where a sumptuous meal is served.
And Fun Drive participants welcome the sunrise in the midst of mighty dunes.
Getting ready to explore part of the Empty Quarter on Day 2 of the overnighter.
Gulf News Fun Drive Day one concludes
9.16pm
Gulf News Fun Drive cake cutting.
8.25pm
Tanoura dance at the Mureeb Camp.
7.55pm
7.45pm
Fun’s not over yet at the Gulf News Fun Drive. We are at the the Al Mureeb camp and there are lot of entertainment activities.
7.14pm
7.03pm
6.51pm
6.47pm
6.41pm
6.33pm
6.15pm
5.58pm
5.43pm
5.37pm
5.32pm
5.28pm
5.20pm
5.14pm
4.55pm
4.00pm
3.35pm
3.00pm
2.40pm
2.30pm
2.15pm
2.05
2.00pm
1.50pm
1.45pm
1.10pm
12.01pm
11.40pm
11.00am
10.44am
10.24am
Hanspeter Rohner is a first time marshal has come all the way from Switzerland only for The Fun Drive. He is a stunt flyer/pilot and an off roader. He is with marshal Jacob Oommen, who has been driving with GN Fun Drive for 12 years.
First help job of the day, participant Surendra Dhanekula’s children helped him deflate the cars tyres, but they were too deflated. Here marshals are helping them with the correct tyre pressure.
10.19am
10.01am
9.43am
9.23am
9.15am
9.03am
8.27am
7.34am