Afternoon Newbie Desert Drive - Al Qudra South - Dubai - 10 Apr 2026

[Yerem Davtyan]

Yes, @Emmanuel, in have seen our old tracks in GalaGPS! 

Way more vegetation these days though Qudra is getting greener! 

[Gaurav]

19 hours ago, Emanuel said:

Qudra South – Afternoon Drive Report

Thank you to everyone who joined today’s Qudra South drive and for arriving on time, ready for briefing at 2:00 PM. Your punctuality really sets the tone for a smooth start. A gentle reminder for future drives: planning a little extra buffer time helps ensure that any unexpected delays don’t hold up the rest of the convoy. When one car is late, everyone waits — and we all want to maximize our time in the sand.

We gathered at the Bab Al Shams meeting point for our briefing before heading out toward Qudra South. After crossing the bike track, we entered our first desert patch — a bushy, technical section that kept everyone focused right from the start. Once we cleared it, we made our way to Crescent Moon Lake for a short break and some fresh air.

From there, we pushed west into our next set of dunes. These were cleaner, but the shape of the long longitudinal dunes proved challenging for some of our newer drivers. We adjusted the route and found a more suitable line toward the next sabkha, where we enjoyed a relaxed break, good chats, and Sebastian’s excellent coffee.

Crossing the sabkha westward brought us into another patch of dunes — still longitudinal, but more open and fun. This section gave our newer drivers a chance to build skills while keeping the pace enjoyable for the Fewbies. Even here, the occasional bushy stretch kept things interesting.

We wrapped up the drive near the back of Last Exit, where we encountered a few muddy patches — badges of honour in my book.

Thank you all for joining today’s adventure.

A special shout‑out to @Lukas Wii and @RickardM on their second Carnity drive, and to @Amer Alsabbagh, @GhaliAwa, @Arbab Anwer, and @Tej on their third. You all drove really well, handled the challenges with confidence, and any minor issues were simply part of the learning journey.

Huge thanks to @J-P L for sweeping and handling most of the refusals and the one recovery — calm, cool, and supportive throughout.

And thank you @Ash S. for a solid Second Lead, especially with those last‑minute course corrections that helped smooth the path for the convoy and kept things aligned with Newbie level expectations.

Wishing you all a peaceful and enjoyable weekend. Looking forward to seeing you in the sand again soon.

What a drive report. Seriously awesome.

120 drives completed, 20 drives led @Emanuel, massive congratulations on officially leading your first Newbie drive! Reading through your recap, it’s clear you completely nailed the mindset and execution required for this level. Stepping into a Newbie lead role takes a very different kind of focus, and you handled the transition perfectly.

This is not just another drive ticked off. Leading Newbies is the highest responsibility compared to leading any other level. It demands a higher level of awareness, cleaner decision-making, more patience, and the ability to stay composed while managing multiple first-time drivers who are still building confidence.

Rerouting around the longitudinal dunes when you saw newer drivers struggling, finding a cleaner line toward the sabkha, keeping the pace enjoyable for the Fewbies while still giving Newbies a chance to build, that's exactly the kind of in-the-moment leadership that separates a good lead from a great one. You didn't just follow a plan, you read the group and adapted to make it safe and entertaining for all.

From what we’ve seen, you handled this transition well. Taking a group of Newbies through the desert safely, keeping the convoy stable, and maintaining momentum without overcomplicating things is exactly what good Newbie leading is all about. It’s not about showing capability, it’s about creating confidence in others, and that’s where real desert leadership (Aspiring arbab - in your language) begins.

 

Well done. Looking fwd to seeing the White Rhino leading many more fresh faces into the dunes!

[Emanuel]

17 hours ago, Gaurav said:

What a drive report. Seriously awesome.

120 drives completed, 20 drives led @Emanuel, massive congratulations on officially leading your first Newbie drive! Reading through your recap, it’s clear you completely nailed the mindset and execution required for this level. Stepping into a Newbie lead role takes a very different kind of focus, and you handled the transition perfectly.

This is not just another drive ticked off. Leading Newbies is the highest responsibility compared to leading any other level. It demands a higher level of awareness, cleaner decision-making, more patience, and the ability to stay composed while managing multiple first-time drivers who are still building confidence.

Rerouting around the longitudinal dunes when you saw newer drivers struggling, finding a cleaner line toward the sabkha, keeping the pace enjoyable for the Fewbies while still giving Newbies a chance to build, that's exactly the kind of in-the-moment leadership that separates a good lead from a great one. You didn't just follow a plan, you read the group and adapted to make it safe and entertaining for all.

From what we’ve seen, you handled this transition well. Taking a group of Newbies through the desert safely, keeping the convoy stable, and maintaining momentum without overcomplicating things is exactly what good Newbie leading is all about. It’s not about showing capability, it’s about creating confidence in others, and that’s where real desert leadership (Aspiring arbab - in your language) begins.

 

Well done. Looking fwd to seeing the White Rhino leading many more fresh faces into the dunes!

Thank you, @Gaurav — truly appreciated. I feel very fortunate to be part of such an incredible community of off‑roaders, nature lovers, and thrill seekers. We all join Carnity for different reasons; for me, it was to build the confidence and skills to overland and reach desert camping spots. That quickly evolved after my first newbie drives with legends like @Ale Vallecchi (my very first drive), @Islam Soliman, @Frederic, @Vanessa8580, @Brette, and @Davie Smooth_Operator, sparking a passion to learn more, drive harder routes, and see more of the UAE’s deserts.

Some standout memories include reaching the top of Big Red for the first time on a @Looper Fewbie Plus drive, and the breathtaking highs of Nahil and Sweihan. Being invited to the Support Team was another defining moment — a chance to give back for the patience and guidance I received over the years. Then came the unforgettable leadership training with you, alongside @Ishak and @Luke K P, followed by our first recovery together, a surprise supervised drive where I had to lead solo, and my first independent drive with @Ale Vallecchi joining for fun — coming full circle after he led my first newbie drive. There are many other names that come to mind like @JeromeFJ, @DP1011, @Gaurav Soni, and @Mike M. though there are way too many others to name here.

Now, leading my first newbie drive in the very area where I learned to drive safely and properly in the desert feels incredibly special. I look forward to welcoming and supporting all the new members who continue to join the Carnity community.

We have something very special here and we also thank you @Gaurav for your dedication and leadership to our community.

[Arbab Anwer]

On 4/11/2026 at 8:08 AM, Emanuel said:

@Arbab Anwer this article may help you solve your traction control and ABS issues. Please check and ensure you are all set before your next drive to make it even more enjoyable for you.

 

 

1 minute ago, Arbab Anwer said:

It is very helpful? And I will definitely try on my next drive.

 

Edited April 12 by Arbab Anwer

[Frederic]

Fantastic to have seen and witnessed your incredible progression @Emanuel! 
Any Convoy under your lead will be in good hands, with a very mature, friendly, and adventurous approach to offroading ! Keep it up !

[Ishak]

@Emanuel Congratulations buddy 🫡. This brings back my memories to those those early leader lead sessions and see what you are right now honestly makes me feel very happy. Same intake have special bonds right @Luke K P? 😅