Now, a new licence for desert drivers in Sharjah

Dubai: Authorities in Sharjah are beefing up regulations when it comes to desert safari operators.

By next week, all drivers of desert tour companies will be required to get a special licence known as a Desert Driving Permit.  

Sharjah Driving Institute announced that it will implement a desert driving licence on September 16, 2018, as part of its efforts to enhance the safety and security of family members that use tour operators.

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Colonel Ali Al Balzoud, head of the Sharjah Driving Institute's customer service centre, said there are a number of tour operators in the emirate that organise desert trips either for families in the UAE, or for tourists who want to enjoy the natural environment of the desert.

“Organising these trips involves several vehicles that takes visitors through a different journey on the sand. Drivers in the desert require skill and craftsmanship in such unlevelled areas, and it can sometimes be dangerous to those who have not mastered the art of driving through sand dunes,” said Col Al Balzoud.

In order to obtain the Desert Driving Permit, the driving institute will provide a series of theoretical and practical training courses where drivers will learn a number of skills, including how to sand drive through sand dunes in artistic and scientific ways.