Morning Intermediate Exploration Desert Drive - Al Wagan - Abu Dhabi - 08 Nov 2025

[GauravSoni]

Please read carefully before you join this drive:

Dune Surfers! 

This is an Adventure into the Unknown — a journey for those who truly love exploration, discovery, and the raw beauty of the desert.

This weekend we embark on a exploration and recce drive in the Al Wagan region of Abu Dhabi, one of the most remote and least-explored desert areas in the UAE. Expect a long, tiring, and unpredictable adventure — this is not a regular weekend drive. The objective is to explore new routes, identify terrain characteristics, and locate access paths for future offroad drives. We will attempt to reach and explore the famous Star Dunes — rare natural sand formations that are truly breathtaking.

Note: This drive may involve dead ends, fences, or sandstorms — we will adapt and navigate as a team.

About the Star Dunes

Star dunes are among the most spectacular and rare desert formations. They form when winds blow consistently from three or more directions, creating radially symmetrical, pyramid-like mounds with multiple arms radiating from a central peak. Unlike other dunes, star dunes do not migrate but grow vertically, making them some of the tallest and most stable dunes on Earth — a sight worth every challenge getting there!

 

Participation Criteria

To join this drive, participants must meet the following criteria:

• Completed at least one Intermediate drive in the past 3 months

• Have been actively off-roading in the past 1 month

• Fully equipped 4x4 in excellent condition

This is a remote area, and recoveries or breakdowns could become serious safety concerns. Only well-prepared and experienced drivers should join.

Pre-Drive Vehicle Checks

Please ensure your vehicle is in perfect mechanical condition before the drive.
It is strongly advised to:

• Take your car for a complete inspection to identify and fix hidden issues

• Check your spare tire (pressure and tread condition)

• Verify you have the necessary tools and jack to replace it if needed.

• Extra Fuel Jerry Cans ( 20 liters ) 

• This region is extremely remote, and towing or recovery to a service track may not be possible in some situations. Prevention is your best safeguard.

MUST READ AND COMPLY

• Offroad Flag Guideline
• Two Way Radio Guideline
• Off road Driving Etiquettes
• Emergency details for all off-roaders
• Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities

DRIVE DETAILS

Level:  Intermediate and above

When:  Saturday, November 8, 2025,

Meeting time:  07:30 AM

Meeting Point:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/1imVJWzSRVdLQvxf9

Approximate finish time:  Empty Tanks / 4:00 PM 

Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance.

What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.

Mandatory off-road gears: Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit, Tow Rope, 2 Shackles, and fire extinguisher.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

• This drive is limited to 6 cars only. RSVP will close on Thursday, 9 AM
• If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist. Once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list.
• RSVP will close a day before preparing a convoy list.
• Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions.
• Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions.
• Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others.
• Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month.

PLEASE RSVP ON BELOW CALENDAR

 

[GauravSoni]

Dune Surfers @Alexanderrr @Sam Selim @ChrisW

It looks like we’ve got ourselves a 4-member convoy — well within our 6-car limit!
Perfect size for this kind of exploration drive.

Please make sure there’s at least 20 liters of extra fuel for your Mean Machines, and don’t forget to pack lunch and refreshments for the Beasts driving them!

By now, I’m sure everyone’s completed a quick vehicle check, including:

• General inspection for any hidden mechanical issues

• Spare tire (condition and pressure)

• Essential recovery gear, jack, and tools

I plan to leave for the meeting point on Friday night, depending on how soon I can wrap up work.
You can reach me at 058 582 7986 in case of any emergency or last-minute coordination.

Let’s be ready for an exciting, unpredictable adventure — this one’s all about exploration, endurance, and teamwork.

See you in the sand!

 

[ChrisW]

I’m really looking forward to this one!

 

Car is ready, equipment packed and last night’s drive with Luke was my shakedown test run - all is good. 
 

See you out there…

[Sam Selim]

All checked ✔️ and geared up to go...

See you all there! 

[Alexanderrr]

Good morning all, unfortunatelly wont make it due to tonight travel plans, have fun for me as well, was really loking forward for this drive, share some pictures 👍

[ChrisW]

Yesterday’s drive took us deep into Al Wiqan, one of those places that once you get inside it still feels untouched and fresh. We set out early, led by @GauravSoni and joined by @Sam Selim for what turned out to be one of the most rewarding desert runs I’ve done in a while.

 

The plan was simple enough: reach a star dune we had been eyeing on satellite maps for the last week. On the ground though, it was anything but simple. The terrain out there is raw, with soft sand, steep slipfaces, and long winding ridges that test both driver and machine.

 

This drive was the perfect opportunity to apply what we learned in the earlier masterclass sessions with @GauravSoni. The ridge-crossing techniques he taught, such as throttle control, alignment, and positioning, were put to the test many times over. The complexity of the terrain made it an ideal setting to consolidate the skills we have built at the Intermediate level…definitely not a first-IM trip, but an excellent consolidation and trial of these skills.

 

After several hours of careful progress, we finally reached the centre bowl of the star dune. It is hard to describe the feeling of standing there, surrounded on all sides by tall arms of sand, completely silent except for the wind. We beached our cars in the small bowl, sat on the ridge and soaked it all up for a while.

 

We covered 117 km in total over 7 hours and 18 minutes, with an average moving speed of 31 km/h. A full day’s drive, but one that reminded me exactly why we love this kind of adventure: remote, challenging, and absolutely stunning.

 

Final push to the top of the star dune: 

Taking it all in: 

 

Ridges for days: 

 

Fast switch: 

Downhill switch: 

 

Sharp ridge: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 9, 2025 by ChrisW