Saudi Arabia Overland Exploration - Coast to Coast: Dubai to the Gulf of Aqaba and back

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear Desertnauts,

as if I didn't have enough business trips (which have lately taken a little away from my off-roading), I have just finished preparing for another trip, this time for pleasure, which will bring me away from Dubai for the next 10 days. It's going to be a bit of a trip down memory lane, like the long overland adventures I used to enjoy, once or twice a year, while taking groups of travelers, mostly to North Africa's Sahara. This one is going to be an exploration drive to Saudi Arabia, from Dubai to Tabuk, via many hopefully amazing sites, and back.

I have just finished to load up the FJ, which I have decided not to equip with a roof rack, or any other loading and storage gimmick, in the spirit of keeping the car as stock as possible and manage its cargo accordingly. The boot is organized with two layers of 2 boxes each, with a row of stripped-down recovery tools crammed at the back of the booth, secured against the backseats (shovel, kinetic rope and soft shackles, hard wood board, hydraulic jack, a mixed toolbox, and the compressor). The boxes contain the dry food pantry, cooking equipment, mixed items (mostly kitchen tools, and an ice chiller. Between the two rows of boxes there has remained enough space to put the tent and 2 foldable chairs. The suitcases (soft bags, stuffed inside a loose and large outer cover accommodating also an inflatable air mattress, toilet paper, a spray bottle, and a pillow) will be placed on the back seat, separated by a small ice box containing some munchies for the trip. The space between the front and back seats is packed with a picnic table, and a supply of water. 

I have planned not to take any extra gasoline, since it'll be possible to find gas stations quite regularly along the planned route. The availability of gas stations will also allow to manage the water supply, which will be limited to 8 lt. per person every 2 days (4 lt. each day, sufficient for drinking and cooking). Washing will be done by spraying any unused fresh water,  but mostly with wet towels. Of course, in case of purely off-road long trips, an adequate supply of water (no less than 3lt/person/day) and gasoline (for an extra autonomy of at least 5/600 km) would have forced me to mount a roof rack to carry these critical goods.

While looking to minimize the upgrades to the car, I have also chosen not to bring an electrically charged chiller and no extra battery pack. Charging of phone, PC, lamps, or air pumps will be done with a converter (700 W capacity) charged through the car's lighter (with the option to accommodate 4 USB's and a regular socket).

To complete the preparations, travelers to Saudi need to get a Tourist Certificate from RTA (provided upon presentation of a Carnet de Passage from Emirates Motorsport Organization), a visa (1-year validity, multi entry), and a car insurance, obtainable at customs.

So, now that all is ready, I'll update you on the trip one day at the time, with a few notes on the areas visited, a picture of the day, and the track completed each day. 

Looking forward to showing you what I find, with the goal, eventually, to organize an overland sometimes next winter. Let the adventure begin!

[Gaurav]

This indeed sounds very exciting and looking fwd to reading about your daily progress.

Just see if you find @Melenany somewhere in Saudi sands, he is a frequent traveler.

Have fun, enjoy and take enough rest to drive safely for long hours.

[JeromeFJ]

Great project ! Thank you for sharing it with us. Drive safe and enjoy !

[Frederic]

Safe travels to the mystical Saudi Arabia, where i've lived for 2.5 years around 10 years back but never found the time to explore properly. The fact my FJ was a 2WD model didnt help either 😁

Keep us posted on your adventures ! 

There some interesting landmarks and places to visit:

 

[Ahmed Wagdy]

Great adventure Ale, keep us posted and have a safe and enjoyable trip. it will be great if you have pictures of the setup in the car, i will try to mimic in my FJ.

[Simon D]

@Ale Vallecchi looks like its gonna be an exciting experience. 

Have a safe and enjoyable journey. Cant wait to see the pictures 😁

[ASAD.]

All the best on your adventure @Ale Vallecchi. Look forward to see updates of your journey which im sure will help other enthusiasts including myself to plan our own. 

[Ale Vallecchi]

DAY 1 - Dubai to Al Bathaa (557 Km)

The first day goes quickly and unexcitingly, with the transfer to, and crossing of, the Saudi border, and an overnight at a not so Dream Home Hotel, just a few kilometers inside Saudi territory. 

The crossing itself has taken a little over 1 hour, mostly spent waiting in line for the various checks, which proceed in a very smooth, quick, and courteous way. Car insurance can be bought at the last booth before being allowed through. If it's the first time you enter Saudi you are required, after showing your visa, to register your fingerprints and picture.

No travel photos for today.

Tomorrow, almost a full day of driving to Edge of the World, which we should reach in around 8/9 hours (depending on how many stops we make), for an early camping and sunset view.

[Ale Vallecchi]

[Ale Vallecchi]

Day 2 - Al Bathaa to Edge of the World (685 Km)

Let's start from the beginning of tomorrow (Day 3). A 6:00 am water up in a windstorm and 14 degrees, after a full night of rain. It felt we had punished for having reached the End of the World. A Martian landscape, of a miles long sharp cliff separating the central plateau of Arabia from the lower lands expanding from here to the Red Sea.

Barely 68 km west of Riyad, yet 2 hours of driving away, End of the World is reached through 30 km M on a rocky dirt track.

The excruciating drive, takes a heavy toll on the back and spine, but leaves you breathless once at the top (see picture).

Everything else between Al Bathaa and here is quite insignificant, except a large dune field running along the highway not far from Riyad, which would warrant more time to explore (on the next trip).

The camp was set at night on track back to the tarmac intersection, yesterday above a small wadi lined up with leafy trees. Food was served and enjoyed just on time for the arrival first of an electric storm, then of the heavy rains that were the sound track of the night, until the windy dawn.