Convince some of your friends to accompany you on this trip as you should never drive through the desert without no less than two or three 4 wheel drives at a time. You can get stuck very easily (don´t worry, this also happens to experienced drivers) and somebody has to pull you out. You should also be a competent desert driver and equipped with at least one GPS (don´t forget additional batteries). Please check all fluid levels and tyres before leaving.
Desert camping is a great alternation to the hectic life in Dubai. Feel free in nature, where there are no lights or noise pollution and no tire tracks. There is plenty to see as well: lizards, arabian red foxes, scorpions and desert gazelles, if you are lucky. Just open your eyes and be attentive!
Camping in the UAE is easy. There is rarely bad weather, so you need much less equipment than in other countries. There are numerous areas to camp: Choose from the stillness of the desert, the tranquillity of a wadi in the mountains or the comfortable campsites only a short distance from the tarmac road, so a 4 wheel drive is not necessarily required.
Caution is advised in and near the wadis, especially during the winter months. This is because flash floods can and do occur while it is raining in the mountains miles from where you are. It is recommended to camp during the cooler months of October to April as in summer it can get unbearably hot. Nevertheless, depending on your personal endurance, don´t let the summer discourage you and go camping as long as it is fun!
(Stand out: Never drive through the desert with only one car.)
Equipment:
Beside the usual camping equipment, the most important things to bring for the desert are: More water than you need, a cool box with ice cubes (you can buy ice at any gas-station. Make sure, you don´t miss the last one on your way!), food, matches or a lighter, barbecue, garbage bags, torches and spare batteries, towrope, shovel, spare tyres, GPS or maps and compass. The list can be endless, the experience will teach you what is really essential!
(Stand out: Make sure you leave no garbage behind. Treat the nature respectfully.)
Locations:
There are endless camping possibilities in the UAE. The many sites in the Hajar Mountains (in the north near Ras Al Khaimah or east and south near Hatta or Al Ain), and the huge sand dunes of Liwa in the south are highly recommended. These routes require some serious off-road driving but offer a real wilderness camping experience.
Tip:
If you plan on going more often Off-Road and camping, it is recommended to buy a map or guidebook. The Off-Road Explorer is a useful help for Orientation all over the UAE. These maps have exact GPS Coordination Points at either the start or the end of the route or at critical junctions.
