Liwa Crossing - Still open?

[Gertjan]

Dear friends!
I am planning a Liwa crossing camping trip with some friends in November. Does any one know if the gates that give access to the camel farms and the crossing start point are always open? 
I was there a year back and the area both sides of the tar road were fenced off for kilometers. Luckily the gates themself were open. It would be a dissapointment to travel 350+ km from Dubai to arrive at a locked gate!

Thanks!

[Gertjan]

Dear friends! 
I can report back that the gates at the entrance of the Liwa Crossing are still wide open.
The route as described on the visitabudhabi site (https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/things-to-do/desert-and-outdoor-activities/off-road-desert-driving) is very doable for a self drive adventure with a group of friends.
There is a small section around 22.83639, 53.85700 where it may be tricky to get accross. 
Enjoy the adventure!

[Frederic]

8 hours ago, Gertjan said:

Dear friends! 
I can report back that the gates at the entrance of the Liwa Crossing are still wide open.
The route as described on the visitabudhabi site (https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/things-to-do/desert-and-outdoor-activities/off-road-desert-driving) is very doable for a self drive adventure with a group of friends.
There is a small section around 22.83639, 53.85700 where it may be tricky to get accross. 
Enjoy the adventure!

Hi @Gertjan,

We have done this exact crossing for 3-4 years in a row with multiple convoys, and it's indeed a fantastic experience. However what the Abu Dhabi website does not tell you is that there are no exit/escape routes once you are halfway through. The only possible escape tracks are through the oilfields, or by taking the border road with KSA. Both are illegal and on our last crossing we had a very unpleasant experience recovering a car and taking it through the oilfields, which was our only option.

In short, yes it's a great experience with a handful of cars if they are all capable and with an experienced lead that can deal with recoveries. In case of a car breakdown you will have to leave the car behind and come back with a mechanic, or try to take the oilfield tracks but be ready to explain yourself to the military/security personnel (and bring an Arabic speaker with you)...

 

[Luke K P]

Thanks for the update. That certainly looks like a fun drive!

[Gertjan]

Thanks @Frederic, fully agree.
Did the crossing a year back supporting Landies from the 60's and 70's. Enough spares to build a complete car.

 

Did it the past weekend with much more capable vehicles, and thankfully all went well.

Edited November 17, 2025 by Gertjan