Morning Fewbie Desert Drive - Drive for Peace: Faqa to Nahil and Beyond - Abu Dhabi - 22 Mar 2026

[Ale Vallecchi]

Please read, understand, and follow the guidelines, etiquette, and responsibilities below.

MUST READ AND COMPLY

• Environmental Policy
• Offroad 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

Meeting time:  8:30 AM

Meeting Point:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/QfKKP2hicYNAzN1Y9

Action Plan: Having found last weekend some interesting dunes, just south of Faqa Road (E14), relatively clean and with nice opportunities for ample side-sloping and criss-crossing, I would like to go back there, to connect this area with Nahil's, and beyond to Sweihan Farms. The drive will be partially an exploration drive (the first part) and partly it will trace back a classic track from Nahil to Sweihan. Just another pleasant exit, to take our minds off the latent stress of hearing booms and shrieking alarms. The only noises will be those of our engines, and perhaps that of the wind on the sand. 

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, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 12:30 PM

P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

• This drive is limited to 12 cars only. RSVP will close on Saturday at noon.
• 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

 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear @Glenn W, @MarkH, @_Piotr_, @Sebastian Nohse, @khurram, @J-P L, @Andrew John Melvill and @Aser, just a note. This drive is confirmed regardless of possible alerts on Sunday morning. All other precautionary measures remain in place during the drive, and of course each member is free to drop off at any time if he so chooses. Thanks for your cooperation. 

[Sebastian Nohse]

Amazing I am in !! Thanks for the coms ! 

[_Piotr_]

Thanks for arranging this drive. 
I am in 😎.

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear Desertnauts.

Thanks a lot for joining the second Drive for Peace" exit. As you have seen from Carnity's announcements page, there is in place e new Safety Protocol in place. Find it here: 

Keep in mind that the drive has already BEEN CONFIRMED, so please proceed to the meeting point as scheduled, regardless of local alerts, unless you do not feel to join and choose to drop out. In this case, PLEASE POST ON THE THREAD YOUR DECISION TO DROP OUT even at the last minute, so I can receive it and make sure the convoy doesn't wait pointlessly.

Other than this, the drive will proceed across the hard-faces from the entry along E14 road (Faqa to Ghantoot), all the way to the E20, in the proximity of Nahil, cross over to Nahil's side, and aim toward Sweihan Farms, just outside Sweihan town.

The convoy should line up as follows:

@Andrew John Melvill in Second Lead

@MarkH at #3

@khurram at #4

@Aser at Center

@Sebastian Nohse at #6

@_Piotr_ at #7 and 

@J-P L in Sweep.

See you tomorrow in time for a timely departure. Have a nice and safe Saturday evening.

 

 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Hi @khurram. How far are you? Your profile is blocked and I cannot call you to check. Please share. Thanks

[Andrew John Melvill]

Thanks @Ale Vallecchi, it was a wonderful drive today. Always good to discover a new area and learn new skills. Made it safely back to Dubai with totally normal temps and no alignment issues. 

[khurramm]

Hi All

Hope you all continued to enjoy the drive today.

Just an update. I called 999 post the side airbags deployment and after reaching the entry point. They directed me to SAAED for traffic who refused to show up since there was no accident or external damage involved.

They redirected me to 999/nearby police station.

I first visited the nearby Dubai police station who then directed me to Al Hayer (Alain) Police station.

After a few phone calls they  directed me to the Alain traffic department (closed today) and guided me with some specifics.

Meanwhile I have raised the query with my insurance.

I guess being Sunday things are a bit slow.

I hope Gaurav does not read this!😁

Thanks @Ale Vallecchi and the rest of the convoy for all the support

See you on the sand sometime hopefully soon!

6 hours ago, Ale Vallecchi said:

Hi @khurram. How far are you? Your profile is blocked and I cannot call you to check. Please share. Thanks

@Ale Vallecchi I tried to play with my account profile settings but could not figure it out.

Will try to check with someone on the next drive.

I really enjoyed the drive today before my exit. Thanks for all the support again

[Gaurav]

Sorry to hear this, @khurramm

From what I understand, there’s no accident involved here, so no accident report will be issued and insurance is unlikely to cover it. Warranty typically won’t cover this either, even on a new car. US-spec side airbags in off-road conditions are a known grey area and can end up being an expensive issue for the owner.

Since the airbags have deployed now, once everything is sorted, it’s worth checking with an RTA passing center whether the vehicle is allowed to be driven without the side airbags. For dune driving, reinstating such an oversensitive system may not be practical. With the main frontal airbags intact, you should still have baseline safety.

When you check with RTA, try to get their confirmation in writing. That way, you’re not relying on inconsistent verbal guidance.

[Sebastian Nohse]

2 hours ago, khurramm said:

Hi All

Hope you all continued to enjoy the drive today.

Just an update. I called 999 post the side airbags deployment and after reaching the entry point. They directed me to SAAED for traffic who refused to show up since there was no accident or external damage involved.

They redirected me to 999/nearby police station.

I first visited the nearby Dubai police station who then directed me to Al Hayer (Alain) Police station.

After a few phone calls they  directed me to the Alain traffic department (closed today) and guided me with some specifics.

Meanwhile I have raised the query with my insurance.

I guess being Sunday things are a bit slow.

I hope Gaurav does not read this!😁

Thanks @Ale Vallecchi and the rest of the convoy for all the support

See you on the sand sometime hopefully soon!

@Ale Vallecchi I tried to play with my account profile settings but could not figure it out.

Will try to check with someone on the next drive.

I really enjoyed the drive today before my exit. Thanks for all the support again

Hope all works out, sound like they have given you quiet the run around… good luck and pls share an update if insurance will pick this up, for future reference. all the best Seb   

On 3/21/2026 at 4:33 PM, Ale Vallecchi said:

Dear Desertnauts.

Thanks a lot for joining the second Drive for Peace" exit. As you have seen from Carnity's announcements page, there is in place e new Safety Protocol in place. Find it here: 

Keep in mind that the drive has already BEEN CONFIRMED, so please proceed to the meeting point as scheduled, regardless of local alerts, unless you do not feel to join and choose to drop out. In this case, PLEASE POST ON THE THREAD YOUR DECISION TO DROP OUT even at the last minute, so I can receive it and make sure the convoy doesn't wait pointlessly.

Other than this, the drive will proceed across the hard-faces from the entry along E14 road (Faqa to Ghantoot), all the way to the E20, in the proximity of Nahil, cross over to Nahil's side, and aim toward Sweihan Farms, just outside Sweihan town.

The convoy should line up as follows:

@Andrew John Melvill in Second Lead

@MarkH at #3

@khurram at #4

@Aser at Center

@Sebastian Nohse at #6

@_Piotr_ at #7 and 

@J-P L in Sweep.

See you tomorrow in time for a timely departure. Have a nice and safe Saturday evening.

 

 

Ali and all thanks A lot for the for the interesting drive, here a few pics 

I think collectively the biggest tires we had ever seen …