Registration opens for Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive 2025 - Tilal Swaihan Experience

Dubai: Registration is now open for the Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive 2025 - Tilal Swaihan Experience. Participants will be able to sign up only online at www.gnfundrive.com from January 28 to February 4.

The latest edition of the event will be on February 15 and 16 (Saturday and Sunday) and it will be an Overnighter, with much more activities, fun, games and entertainment planned.

It is being held once again at Tilal Swaihan in a ‘Loop’ format, which means that it will start and end at the same location. The route is very challenging and exciting, covering around 145km.

The fee is Dh500 per person (children under 12 are free) and this includes:

• Breakfast on Saturday morning

• Lunch box for the way

• Dinner on Saturday evening

• Breakfast on Sunday morning

• A case of water, a goody bag and other items from sponsors

There will be plenty of tents at the camp for sharing, but participants can also reserve a tent for a fee from the supplier or bring their own tent.

The Flag Off will be at 9am from Tilal Swaihan. A 2.5x1.5 metre cake to celebrate the Fun Drive will be cut by a VVIP at 9pm. The cake will have a desert theme.

In 1986, off-road driving was a leisure activity, enjoyed by a limited number of residents. The desert was a mystery and not many dared to venture into it. Gulf News came up with the concept of the Fun Drive that year - the prime objective was to give residents in the region an opportunity to experience the desert.

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 to enjoy a day of dune driving with expert assistance at hand. It is a great representation of adventure, driving skill, camaraderie, fun and also the magnificence of the desert that is so very unique.

The event was first held in March 1986, as a Day Drive and a total of 75 four wheel drives including marshals participated. This number increased over the years to make the event an annual fixture, one that is awaited eagerly. Later on it was converted to an overnight event.

2025 is the 39th year of the Fun Drive but as we have run two events in certain years, this Fun Drive will be the 43rd. So far, we have done eight Day Drives, 31 Overnighters, one Abu Dhabi Day Drive and three Friday Fun Drives, thus making this one the 43rd in the series.

1) Visit www.gnfundrive.com

2) Register your details

3) Once registered, you will get a confirmation email. Click the link in the email and start entering details on www.gnfundrive.com

4) First you add the driver details

5) Add passenger’s details if you want to.

6) Make sure to go through the disclaimer form.

7) Finalise payment details

8) Once payment is done, your booking is confirmed.

9) Online booking can only be done until February 4

10) From February 6-8, information packs collection will be available at Gulf News offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

11) Last date to cancel your Fun Drive booking is on February 6