The UAE and in fact the Arabian Peninsula as a whole is a wonderland of 4×4 and off-road driving experiences, and many expats and locals in this region buy vehicles specifically for this purpose. A common tourist activity is to go “Dune Bashing”, and as its name suggests it’s a pretty destructive sport.
Some cars are not really made for the desert
Inland sand dune ecology is pretty delicate and the wildlife and plants that inhabit these hot and dry regions have had to make some pretty drastic adaptations to survive the climate. All too often enthusiasts will randomly crisscross areas of outstanding natural beauty with trails, leaving burned out vehicles, oil and petrol spills, burst tyres, abandoned spare parts, fire pits, BBQ’s and a trail of assorted glass, paper, plastic and food rubbish in their wake. This has an enormous impact on the local wildlife which will try to eat anything to stay alive and will also crawl under or into anything to escape the sun. On top of this, the extensive hole and burrow networks that these creatures dig to escape the harsh sun and scorching temperatures collapse under the weight of vehicles churning through the sands above them. Whole areas of plants are destroyed by wheels running over them and huge amounts of firewood is illegally cut from desert trees. In short, the indiscriminate use of off-road vehicles anywhere in the UAE is little short of an environmental disaster…but it doesn’t have to be.
My Terios in the desert with off road kit
As I have mentioned in the past, until recently I had a Landrover Discovery that was fully kitted out for off-road expeditions. Even now we have a Daihatsu Terios which is also equiped for expeditions and driving off-road. I am not suggesting that we ban off-road driving, but I do believe that it is time for some legislation to be developed in order to really protect the wild areas outside the city. The simplest argument is of course to designate specific areas for off-road enthusiasts to go. The precedent for this can be seen all over the UK, Europe, Australia, USA and Canada etc in the form of National Parks that restrict access, and “Driving Trails” that encourage access. A great
example of this is the famous “Rubicon Trail” in the High Sierras, California, USA. I have worked three summer seasons in the High Sierras as a Wilderness Guide and most of it was spent within 4kms of the Rubicon Trail. Aside from the occasional gunshot from an overexcited co-driver who thinks he “saw a bear”, or an engine that is over revved to get up a steep incline, you wouldn’t really know it was there unless you actually stumbled across it on foot. There are several organisations that are dedicated to keeping the trail open, and at just 22 miles in length it represents a tiny fraction of the National Park space available for everyone to enjoy, including the wildlife. Along its length there are controlled campsites and Park Rangers are frequently seen on horseback in the high seasons, riding down the flanks of the trail to ensure that nobody breaks off it. On top of this, a very effective educational campaign has been waged and the majority of people who use the trail are both responsible in their actions and keen to ensure that the trail stays open for the benefit of everyone. 22 Miles might not sound like a very long trail, but in fact when the average speed is 2-7 miles a day and the term “Rock Crawling” is taken literally (see pictures) you can see why the trail basically becomes a long caravan of enthusiasts partying and filming each others’ hair raising exploits, driving modified Jeeps worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is one of the most popular trails in the USA, if not the world!
Rock crawling on the Rubicon Trail
The question is – can we do the same here in the UAE?
According to one avid UAE off-road enthusiast, yes we can:
“So, it boils down to: Education, education, education. Perhaps everyone who either gains a driving license or who transfers their foreign one should go through a compulsory hour’s education on the behavior to be adopted when going off-road. The desert does not consume plastic, glass or metal. The traveler’s mantra of ‘take only photographs, leave only footprints’ could be adapted to ‘take only photographs, leave only tyre prints’ and of course sticking to set routes on prepared tracks (not roads).” Mike Nott
There are some areas that are more popular than others and these could be focused on. The Fossil Rock area at Maleha is one such location, and another is the road
between Dubai and Hatta, and of course most of us are familiar with the giant sand dunes at Liwa. In every Emirate there are then smaller areas which locals and expats living there like to use, for example the sand dune and camping area at the intersection of the 311 with the RAK exit on the truck road to Al Hamra.
A very important factor for ensuring that people stick to the designated areas and understand why they should do so is to release an educational campaign.
In Australia the National Four Wheel Drive Council released a Code of Conduct – for Off Road Driving, which stated:
Government sign in popular camping area
1. Obey the laws and regulations for Recreational Vehicles that apply to public lands.
2. Respect the cultural, heritage and environmental values of public/private land, by obeying restrictions that may apply.
3. Respect our flora and fauna. Stop and look, but never disturb.
4. Keep to formed vehicle tracks.
5. Keep the environment clean. Carry your own, and any other, rubbish out.
6. Keep your vehicle mechanically sound and clean to reduce the environmental impact.
7. Adopt minimal impact camping and driving practices.
8. Seek permission before driving on private land. Do not disturb livestock or watering points, leave gates as found.
9. Take adequate water, food, fuel, basic spares and a first aid kit on trips. In remote areas travel with another vehicle and have Royal Flying Doctor Service, or equivalent emergency contact by radio or satellite.
10. Plan ahead and lodge trip details with a responsible person.
11. Enjoy your recreation and respect the rights of others.
12. Support four-wheel drive touring as a legitimate family activity.
13. Consider joining an affiliated four-wheel drive club.
The driving rules are very strict in the UAE and you have to keep a perfect driving record. In the USA it is possible to hire a lawyer to fight off a ticket for driving offences (more at Florida Ticket Firm website), but it is hardly possible to do the same in the UAE.
Hiking in desolation wilderness needs a permit
This campaign was delivered through a mixture of radio and TV commercials and leaflet distribution, especially to garages selling and servicing 4×4 vehicles. It was also connected to the various National Parks, highlighting the areas that drivers could legally use and areas that were supposed to be left untouched.
In the UAE it is good to start a campaign demonstrating the importance of taking your own rubbish out of an area, but actually getting everyone to do this is much harder. A simpler step could be to designate certain locations as start and finish points for trails or “Dune Bashing” areas, and provide proper garbage skips which are regularly emptied. In a similar way to the track at Al Qudra in Dubai, toilets, showers, a café, a 4X4 shop, car park etc could also be set up and these can include a first aid post with a tourist information section to educate people on how to go off-road safely.
Trails will need to be marked, especially if they also cover areas that need to be protected. The old Mtnlandcrusier trails from before the 1971 Union will need government warning signs, way mark points and signs for drivers to follow. This in turn needs an organisation to run it, and like in the Rubicon Trails case, an action group of volunteers made up of drivers and enthusiasts is the best way to not only run this but also police it for everyone’s enjoyment.
Desert glamping can create a lot of garbage
The main problem with getting these ideas into action is that there is a general feeling between both locals and expats that they have the right to “go anywhere” and “do anything” (unless it is obviously owned by someone and fenced). This has given rise to a culture of camping anywhere you can get to and with the issue of rubbish being left everywhere it has meant that the UAE has now got a massive amount of rubbish and waste in all areas of natural beauty. This practice needs to be stopped for the sake of future generations’ enjoyment of this beautiful country, and the damage already done needs to be addressed and mitigated. Cleanup volunteer teams can be deployed into the desert, to try to bring out as much rubbish as possible. Although this process will take time it is feasible that in less than a decade the joint measures of Education, Defined Off Road Trails and Cleanup can once more return the desert and mountains to almost pristine condition and protect them for their Natural History and for the off-road enjoyment of future generations.
(Check out more about the Rubicon Trail Foundation on their FB page: www.facebook.com/RubiconTrailFoundation/?fref=ts )
Dan Wright is a Wilderness Expedition Guide and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). He has a degree in Environmental Science and works as the Project Manager of the ADAPT Adventure & Field Studies Center, based in RAK. Dan writes for a range of publications in Arabia and Asia on Environmental Issues and Personal Development. His wife Nirjala is the former Nepal National Mountain Bike Champion and their son Percy is an adventurer in the making! They spend all their spare time exploring the UAE.
Words + Photos by: Dan Wright
