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.
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.
Participants having a sumptuous breakfast in the UAE desert.
Image Credit: Gulf News
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
Dinner has been served. Participants gather for dinner and dessert.
Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
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
Participants at the Fun Drive are colouring this Land Cruiser
Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
7.03pm
Bollywood performances getting the crowd going
Bindu Rai/Gulf News
6.51pm
Kids at the camp have some fun finding the golden ball
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
Another game for children
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
6.47pm
Philip Eapen, Fun Drive marshal for 20 years talks about today’s drive
Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
6.41pm
Don't miss the laser show on the mighty Moreeb dune
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
6.33pm
Marshal no 1 Stephen Dessurne, who was in the lead car, recaps his Fun Drive experience with tips for novice off-roaders.
Bindu Rai/Gulf News
6.15pm
David Pryce Marshal interview after a long day of rescuing
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
5.58pm
A fun activity at the Moreeb camp
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
5.43pm
Father son duo Vivek and Dheer say they had a fabulous ride to the camp
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
5.37pm
Activities galore await people at the camp
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
Hridvi Shah, aged 2, is one of the youngest members on the fun drive. She's earned a well deserved playtime at camp
Image Credit: Bindu Rai/Gulf News
5.32pm
Happy dune bashers at the camp
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
5.28pm
After a long day in the desert, participants enjoying little luxuries at the camp.
Bindu Rai/Gulf News
5.20pm
At the Moreeb camp setting with the mighty dune in the backdrop
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
5.14pm
Participants reach the camp in Liwa.
Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News
Participants reach the Toyota checkpoint at the Camp in Liwa.
Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News
Final stretch to the overnight camp set up at base of the Moreeb Dune
Image Credit: Bindu Rai/Gulf News
4.00pm
Camp at Liwa coming up soon
Image Credit: Bindu Rai/Gulf News
3.35pm
Some cars now taking the shortcut to reach camp.
Bindu Rai/Gulf News
3.00pm
Mitch Perera from Sri Lanka is a second generation marshal. He started 32 years ago as a navigator when his dad Chris Perera was a marshal.
Image Credit: Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
2.40pm
Some cars have gone off the route, marshals have gone behind them to re-route the participants on the right track.
Image Credit: Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
2.30pm
A challenging dune approaches participants. Marshals instruct drivers as the drive over it.
Falah Gulzar/Gulf News
2.15pm
While their vehicle is stuck, a mother and her kids send out a message for Gulf News
Bindu Rai/Gulf News
The dunes are where the action is at...
Bindu Rai/Gulf News
2.00pm
Press Car driver pulls a participant out of a tough spot.
Clint Egbert/Gulf News
1.50pm
Marshals Pradish Thomas and Anit Zhakur stand proud after rescuing four people from a SUV that was wedged in deep in the dunes at last year's Fun Drive. According to expert marshals, a common mistake that people commit is that they don’t maintain safe distance from the vehicle in front. If you keep your distance right, you can see what is happening in front. As a rule of thumb in the desert, if you stop right you start right. If you stop flat, you cannot start and go forward with ease. Always stop on an incline so you have a rolling start. Remember the sand is soft and flat and wheels move in a clock-wise rotation. As a result, you can totally dig yourself in if you don’t take care. Also, never park behind a vehicle and check your tire pressure. Check your tire pressure every hour as heat can build up inside due to the friction with the wheels. Everything else is bottled down to common sense.
Image Credit: Bindu Rai/Gulf News
1.45pm
Participants jump in to help other vehicles trapped in the sand.
Bindu Rai/Gulf News
1.10pm
Another rescue attempt underway
Image Credit: Bindu Rai/Gulf News
12.01pm
Faateh Ahmad is a second generation marshal at the Gulf News Fun Drive. Has been part of the event since he was eight years old. Inspired by his father, who is also a marshal, he decided to join this year.
Falah Gulzar/Gulf News
11.40pm
Eggs being distributed after Checkpoint 2, all participants
Image Credit: Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
Dalia Henderson and James Henderson said that the news about the Gulf News Fun Drive "spread all around Dubai."
Falah Gulzar/Gulf News
Simimol Raijo, Raijo James and family, very excited first timers. Right from the beginning of the event they knew that they will be at the Gulf News Fun Drive next year.
Falah Gulzar/Gulf News
11.00am
A four-wheeler following a caravan of camels.
Image Credit: Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
Off-roaders coming down steep dunes
Image Credit: Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
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.
Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
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.
Marshals Hanspeter Rohner (left) and Jacob Oommen.
Image Credit: Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
Marshals help Surendra Dhanekula deflate their car tyres.
Image Credit: Evangeline Jose/Gulf News
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
Marshals working hard to get this four-wheeler out of the sand.
Image Credit: Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
10.01am
Volunteers handing calendars at the first check point.
Image Credit: Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
9.43am
Cars lining up at the first check point
Image Credit: Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
Cars lining up at the first check point
Image Credit: Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
Cars lining up at the first check point
Image Credit: Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
A bunch of excited children on their first Gulf News Fun Drive and they are expecting one bumpy day ahead.
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
At the check-in counter. Off-roading enthusiasts arrive early to register their vehicles for the Gulf News Fun Drive in Al Fathiya.
Anjana Kumar/Gulf News
Marshals lined up
Image Credit: Logan Fish/Gulf News
Specially modified police SUV’s for the desert
Image Credit: Logan Fish/Gulf News
Participants arrive for the Gulf News Fun Drive
Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
Participants at breakfast before they hit the desert.
Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
6am: Cars are gradually arriving for check in
Image Credit: Gulf News
Participants arriving at Gulf News Fun Drive
Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
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