Fewbie Plus Exploration Drive (2 DAYS) - Ghayati to Arada - Abu Dhabi - 7-8 Feb 2026

[Andrew John Melvill]

16 hours ago, Asif Hussain said:

 @Andrew John Melvill@Aser@DP1011and @Luke K P best of luck. I’ll be ready at the Day 2 finish line, ready to celebrate your winning title.

@Asif Hussain, will be awesome if you can make it. On day 2 (Sunday) teams start between 09h00 and 10h30 with around 50 to 60km of driving. Finish time terrain and stucks dependent. 

[Frederic]

Gents,

please find the convoy list for our drive.

We will be using Channel 10: 446.231Mhz

Drive safe on the way to Ghayati! See you soon!

[Asif Hussain]

3 hours ago, Andrew John Melvill said:

@Asif Hussain, will be awesome if you can make it. On day 2 (Sunday) teams start between 09h00 and 10h30 with around 50 to 60km of driving. Finish time terrain and stucks dependent. 

Fingers crossed, @Frederic previous track exit was few mtrs away to RDC finish point. Let's see his change of plan now.

[Frederic]

34 minutes ago, Asif Hussain said:

Fingers crossed, @Frederic previous track exit was few mtrs away to RDC finish point. Let's see his change of plan now.

This is the revised plan:

I marked the whole Rahal Desert Challenge area in the red polygon. I definitely want to stay out of there. Our camp site (NEW CAMP) is close to the exit, so once we pack up we head onto the E15 towards Arada and fuel up in Khanoor before making our way back home.

If time permits we can play around a bit in the dunes around the camp site. These are similar to what you can find in the Yellow truck Area. Definitely not small dunes.

 

[Frederic]

Wikiloc | AUH-Ghayati Trail

 

 

[Frederic]

DRIVE REPORT

The last time we ventured into Ghayati was exactly 3 years ago during our Tropic of Cancer drive. I knew that one time i wanted to come back to this area as at the time we drove only in a straight line from West to East, and the main thing i remembered about it how soft it was.

Doing an offroad drive in the most remote part of the UAE needs a group of people who have a good understanding of what we can do, or not do. Restraint is important, not only because we need to cover some good ground, not burn up all the fuel, and respect the fact that recovery or breakdowns in this terrain would be very challenging. 

That is why i was extremely blessed over the last two days, to be amongst not just extremely capable offroaders, but more importantly, to be amongst friends. There was zero ego. Just a tight convoy of people who wanted to enjoy an adventure during the day, and a nice bonfire and laughs at night  

I will vividly remember our sitdown at the farm at 23.34315, 52.87325, where the friendly local invited us so we could have a nice sitdown in the shade of the palm trees.  @M.Seidam was our Public Relations Officer, and having that friendly chap coming over with his two daughters to share their dates, coffee, and snacks is some of the best hospitality i've ever encountered. 

The original camp spot i selected where @Asif Hussain was gonna join us for the evening was just next to what we originally believed was a farmtrack, but it ended up being a track for ADNOC as new oil and gas projects and pipelines were being constructed. After meeting up with Asif bhai, we headed a bit deeper inside to a more elevated spot and away from the pipes. 23.16579, 53.12296

We enjoyed each other's company at a nice bonfire with loads of wood 🤣.

The next morning felt surprisingly warm for this time of year. The leftover wood was burned up and after inspecting each others engine bays 😝, we planned for a gentle chillout drive of about 1hr while making our way to the exit point at the E15. Most of us by now were running a bit low on fuel, and the ADNOC up north at 23.67153, 52.95606 was a very welcome spot to refuel our cars and ourselves!

@Ishak and his co-pilot as my SL was a blessing. You always kept the exact amount of distance, and somehow your Pajero refused to be winched by a Toyota. Another great campfire story !

@Ash S. who is still somewhat new to all of this, you drove like a champ and not a single moment would i have thought how recent you've joined the club. 

@Myrko you are very much in tune with your lovely Defender now, and it's so great how you've set it up with so much attention to detail! 

@Giacomo and @Steffi in the beautiful black Rubicon. It's such a blessing have you both on the drive and how wide both your smiles were when taking in the terrain. 

@Beide Worku second time's a charm! What did not work out two weeks ago worked out so well this weekend! 

@Sam Selim you drive the most economical Jeep with 315 tires!! I am absolutely sure you have filled your fuel tank with smiles, as you carry the warmest one!

@Alexanderrr the man who doesn't even need a mattress to sleep in this tent 🤣. Man your optimism is beyond next level!!

@Imran Asghar if you need a bigger than life personality on a drive, you are the one i'd pick every single time. It was so good having you on the drive, sharing stories, and i hope your night photos worked out well.

@M.Seidam with copilot Abdallah all the way in the back, overlooking us like a proud dad, you were not just the best PRO, but a good friend to have and i always enjoy our time together!

@Asif Hussain you became our super sweep on day two. I was so glad seeing you on the evening show up with your lovely family, and i enjoyed the food they/you made and shared so much. You are not just my mentor but also a friend, and no Abu Dhabi drive is ever complete without you!

I thank you all again for joining me on my crazy long adventures! I hope we can do many more of those!

 

[M.Seidam]

Indeed it was so lovely weekend I and Abdallah enjoyed every bit of it and meeting and sharing the passion with you all dear friends .

@Frederic Thanks a lot for the kind words and the superb report which made me recall the adventure vividly . Sure will be doing those trips inshallah more and more. 

@Ishak I think Ilyas and Abdallah found a way to enjoy it together. Good to see you my friend .

@Sam Selim you have a football magic touch in addition to the gas paddle 😉 

@Giacomo @Alexanderrr @Beide Worku @Ash S. @Imran Asghar @Myrko and @Asif Hussain it was true pleasure sharing the drive and setting around the camp fire . What a tranquility 🙏

enjoy the days coming till we meet again inshallah . 
 

Best friends Best Days 

Seidam