Desert Driving in Abu Dhabi

Published: 10/12/06

Pick-up Pick-up Date Time Pick-up from 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 00:00 00:15 00:30 00:45 01:00 01:15 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:15 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:15 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:15 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:15 05:30 05:45 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:45 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:45 08:00 08:15 08:30 08:45 09:00 09:15 09:30 09:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:30 18:45 19:00 19:15 19:30 19:45 20:00 20:15 20:30 20:45 21:00 21:15 21:30 21:45 22:00 22:15 22:30 22:45 23:00 23:15 23:30 23:45 Airport City All Drop-off Drop-off Date Time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 00:00 00:15 00:30 00:45 01:00 01:15 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:15 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:15 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:15 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:15 05:30 05:45 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:45 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:45 08:00 08:15 08:30 08:45 09:00 09:15 09:30 09:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:30 18:45 19:00 19:15 19:30 19:45 20:00 20:15 20:30 20:45 21:00 21:15 21:30 21:45 22:00 22:15 22:30 22:45 23:00 23:15 23:30 23:45

Inland from the coastal city of Abu Dhabi lies the huge expanse of the Arabian Desert, where mile after mile of featureless sandy terrain hides small oases and desert settlements where the local tribes people live traditional lives of camel herding and moisture farming. Hiring a 4x4 in Abu Dhabi and heading out into this extreme environment can be an unforgettable experience, although it makes sense to take a few sensible precautions before you do so.

The first step in any bid to explore the desert is to take a special desert driving course. Arabian Adventures offer one that includes plenty of hands on information about how to cope with the terrain and challenges.

Once you are comfortable with driving and have booked car hire in Abu Dhabi, make sure you fill up with petrol and take plenty of water with you, as well as a survival kit that includes things like a satellite phone and a shovel. Tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to be back. Then head off and enjoy yourself. Dune bashing is great fun, and if you do it sensibly, is safer than you might think.