Morning Fewbie Desert Drive - Unspoilt Al Hayer - Abu-Dhabi - 15 Nov 2025

[Frederic]

DRIVE DESCRIPTION

In an attempt to find better off-roading pastures, we are heading to Al Hayer, an area often overlooked by off-roaders due to the vicinity to Sweihan. Last time we had some good fun in this area. 

Hopefully another great morning out with exploration-minded people  

MUST READ AND COMPLY

• Environmental Policy
• Off-road Flag Guideline
• Two Way Radio Guideline
• Off road Driving Etiquette's
• Emergency details for all off-roaders
• Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities

DRIVE DETAILS

Level:  Fewbie and above  

When:  15 Nov 2025

Meeting time: 07.00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions)

Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aTs1HUh6yH9wBabL6

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, smiles, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 10.00-10.30am

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

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

• This drive is limited to 10 cars only.  
• 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 prior to preparing a convoy list.
• Latecomers will be returned back - Without any exceptions.
• Members without RSVP will be returned back - 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

 

[Frederic]

RSVP IS NOW CLOSED

@nithish468@Thomas54675@Steffi@Abdullah A.@Zahid Sharif@Danie@saumik1989@Suneedh Wrangler@Zed

Thank you all for joining! 

We will be using Channel 4 tomorrow: 446.081Mhz.

Please try to arrive by 6.45AM so you have time to deflate and set up the flag. I'd like to get the convoy moving by 7.15 latest, so we can enjoy the marvelous weather.

See you all in the morning!

[Abdullah A.]

Hi @Frederic, it seems I may have an issue with the solenoid switch, my 4x4 is showing an error I will get it checked tomorrow so unfortunately I won’t be able to join the drive. Sorry for the short notice but it just happened couple of hours ago.

[saumik1989]

Hi Fred

Woke up with a bit of fever.  So will not be able to make it. Apologies for the last minute pullout. 

[Steffi]

Thanks @Frederic for a great drive today. Loved the area and the technical challenges. 
 

Here are some shots from today.

Hope everyone got home safely. Have a good weekend all and see you again in the sand soon.

 

 

Edited November 15, 2025 by Steffi

[Thomas54675]

Hi @Steffi thx sharing this great Pictures, and home safe and sound. Thank you @Frederic organizing this amazing drive today. First part technical and we stumble across abandoned Land Cruisers, Patrols, even a carshed Jimny. 😀 And than somehow the radio went silent and we drove thru the dones (dont even know for how long), alomst surrealistic with the clear blue sky and nobody far and wide, just our convoy at a good speed. 🤩

* dunes 

[Suneedh Wrangler]

Thanks @Frederic Again for an excellent drive man!

The dunes looked small, but they were very technical. Learned a few good things today with the technicalities. The landscape was so beautiful and everyone was in great spirits which made the drive a very enjoyable experience for all.

Was fun to stumble upon left-away cars in the desert and always nice chatting with fellow members! 😀

Look forward to the next adventures.

[Frederic]

This was indeed a blessed morning out with such a nice group of people!

The sunset on the way to the drive, emerging from behind the Oman mountains, was already a first glimpse into what we could expect today: a drive in a more deserted area where we could all feel "out of this world" for a couple of hours.

The first elevated group of dunes was indeed interesting, as the dune formations were very irregular, which meant we needed to drive carefully, had a lot of steep drops, but this was perfect practice terrain. Not just for Fewbies, but for every off-roader. Here we came across the deserted Jimney that we also noticed the last time we were there with @J-P L in March i believe.

Once we reached the fence of the military base, we looped back and started moving southwards towards the second elevated areas. During this southward crossing, we encountered a few strange things: first a couple of teenagers sitting next to their Landcruiser that got themselves stuck with so much plastic litter around them i can only assume they spent the night next to the car and ate all their snacks their mom gave them 😆

A bit further a second desert Landcruiser, where the driver even left his slippers behind 🤣 and two dunes further away a deserted Y62 Patrol. For a moment if felt like we were in a kind of dystopian post-apocalyptic UAE.... 

The last part consisted out of smaller dunes but as the terrain was quite regular, we could "flow" over it and like Thomas mentioned, the radio silence said it all. I think all of us enjoyed this last part, even though this drive was not a "dunebashing" kind of drive, more like a soul-cleansing one  

We found a nice scenic tree close to the exit where we did a small debriefing, and it was so nice to see the positive reactions on this kind of drive and terrain. It proves that off-roading has many faces, and that every terrain has something to offer. We just need to dip our toes into it and observe to see what it can bring us. 

There was an ADNOC nearby but needed a bit of a detour to reach. The fence that was open the last time i was there was now closed, so we had to reroute a bit. Will take this into account for next drive.

Thank you all for joining, and @Zed for the help and keeping the convoy flowing. 

See you all in the sands soon!

[Frederic]

[Frederic]