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Thanks to all the Carnity active members for joining the previous off-road drives and have shown the great enthusiasm. We plan to give equal opportunities to all car enthusiast's to enjoy the carnity drives. Hence this time we plan to head out to Fujairah through Kalba road to enjoy the most scenic view in the UAE. Perfect opportunity for photographers to hone their skills and make good use of their camera (in my case). Meeting point: Last ADNOC on Sharjah-Kalba (Maliha) road GPS Coordinates: https://goo.gl/maps/PBLWyryWVyH2 Meeting time: 10 AM Photo stops: 3-4 stops en route (15 mins each) Reaching Kalba: 12:30 (for Friday prayers) Mosque in Kalba: https://goo.gl/maps/cEJHwkBnDHB2 Reaching Fujairah: 2 PM Fujairah Corniche: https://goo.gl/maps/HZDwCicvuGz Enjoy Friday lunch on Fujairah beach with the whole group Enjoy Jet skies, Para Sailing or boat ride on Fujairah beach. If we have enough interest will hire a boat to visit neighboring island (1 hr) for more photo opportunities for the shutterbugs. What to bring along: Friday lunch whatever you like to eat and share with others, water, liquids, smiles, stories, enthusiasm and eye for picture perfect. Approximate finish time : 6-7 PM

Just came across this on whatsapp, may be @amid this seems more viable solution for your worries. I think / hope this device should be available in market to install too for private vehicles too, so that you can interrupt the tailgater radio for few seconds to run the warning in 4 language, very creative attempt by RTA dubai.

With the Maybach G-650 rag top

@Rahimdad Spot on... Patience is the key. This might sound a bit racist but I have noticed that the most impatient drivers that I've seen on the road are always the local Emiratis and the expats from the Arabic speaking countries. I mean no disrespect. They are perfectly nice people - very caring and very helpful. But the moment they get into the driver's seat, they're suddenly in Race-driver mode and they act like they're always in a hurry - even when they don't need to be. How do I know this? A couple of those people are friends of mine. Maybe it is a cultural thing, I do not know.. I've asked my friends many times about why they drive and behave like that, they just looked at me like I'm crazy. To them it is perfectly normal. Even your observations about driving in Europe is interesting. Yes, driving in Europe is certainly more civilized, but that is slowly changing I think. A friend of mine in UK was complaining about recently there are some people over there constantly tailgating and driving crazy on the roads. She managed to get 5 people to stop so that she can talk to them. All of them were people who migrated - Two Lebanese, one Egyptian, one Iranian and one Pakistani. The Pakistani guy grew up in Kuwait. For whatever reason people choose to tailgate or drive the way they do, it is clear that one person cannot make a difference. All we can do is drive as carefully, lawfully and respectfully as we can and hope that it gets better.

@Jeh thanks for re-visiting carnity after long time. If you are joining, we will see what safe changes we can do in the route to keep all shutterbugs happy. I also been to that Dam last sep, its really nice road but last few kms is unpaved and we will see closer to the date as how much downpour we are getting?

Let me introduce myself first. My name is Rahimdad and I have been on the off-road scene now for over 10 years. I am registered with EMSF (Emirates Motor Sports Federation) and I have marshaled many events including the Gulf News Fun Drive, Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Dubai Desert Challenge and the Dubai Desert Moto X events. Now that you know me a bit better, lets find out what are modifications, basically modifications are any changes made to your vehicle which change the characteristics of the vehicle from its original built. There are power modifications, which change the power and torque ratio of your stock vehicle, some of these can be done without detection while others are visible and illegal in UAE. The ride height of the vehicle can be modified, and where some people prefer to lower their rides as a sports modification, the off-road community looks at increasing the height of the 4x4 for better clearance. Than there are visual modifications which change the look of your vehicle, this can be achieved through some body kits, spoilers or something as simple as stickers. So with all my experience what would I recommend for off-road modifications. many a times I have seen people who get interested in off-roading and want to experience it first hand. First things first you need a 4x4 which would serve your purpose, so you ask a few experienced drivers and they give you a few models to choose from. Than they start asking for mods for their chosen vehicle and they would go for the mods ending up spending a small fortune. Than they would venture out to the desert with a group who would guide him through the terrain. They would either feel that the small fortune they have spent in making their ride does not perform well as it is getting stuck or its not quite the sport for them. Guess what, this small fortune they have spent is a complete waste, as now they do not want to pursue the sport for one reason or the other and they would never get back the money spent to built the vehicle, which means a total loss. I have never made any power mods and never felt the need to upgrade the power of any of my off-road vehicles due to my style of driving. As I have not made any power mods I am not the best person to comment on this either. For small power gains which would not be noticeable and would not get you in trouble with the law, you can install platinum plugs with high performance wire set. Another small gain from changing the stock filter to an after market one with similar look and feel as your original air filter (cone filters are against the law, although sold in a few shops). Changing the exhaust pipe give you moderate gains, but a nice sound to your car added with a cone filter (straight pipes are also not allowed as cat back system is important). he main gains would come when you change the header and reprogram your vehicle (also not allowed in UAE). This is for information purpose from my understanding and I have never made any power mods and I will not recommend it to anyone. The lesser engine power you have, the more scope you have of learning and the better you can perform with a higher spec vehicle. I feel a lift is important for some of the vehicles, specially the newer ones, but you cannot make any mods on a new car without losing warranty. Trading Enterprise, Jeep are the only one who void only the warranty for the suspension if you make any mods through them and loads their system with the warranty of the company that you are using to change the suspension system. There are many ways to lift a vehicle, mostly through aftermarket suspension kits which come with a warranty of their own. in my case I had lifted my Jeep Commander 5.7 Hemi with Coil Spring Spacers which were the only option, this gave me 2 inch more of clearance and the ability to put in slightly bigger tires. On my Land Rover Discovery i did not lift it at all, since I really liked the feel of the original soft suspensions and I found a way to manage my Discovery without having any major issues. For my pathfinder I have just gone to one of the Sharjah suspension shops and got it done really cheap by just changing the springs to slightly harder and about 2 inches bigger than the original springs. With bigger tires I have managed enough height to give me a peace of mind in any terrain. With my Pathfinder I do feel that there is slight issue with the tire rubbing on full turns, but I try to manage it without further mods. I have never tried to change the looks of my car, and it is also something which is not allowed by the laws in UAE, even stickers are not allowed and at the time of passing they can fail you car for a simple sticker. This is just a short write up to make people aware that you do not need to mod your car before bringing it out to the desert, only make the mods you feel necessary when you are serious about the sport. Don't think that overly modified vehicles will give you knowledge on how to treat a terrain and navigate through it. I will end with one of my friend's example, he had a Pajero 3.8 liter 2008 model and the only modification he ever made was a steel plate on the rear of his vehicle to protect the rear bumper, this was a bolt on application that could be removed at the time of passing. He has manged all terrains with us and is very capable with minimum modification. Everybody, please feel free to comment and add to this thread, or start a new thread on this section if you feel you have something new to add.

@Rahimdad , Looking forward to meet you too and plan a trip. I am no expert, am just an adventure seeker. I take the road less traveled. Btw the route which i have mentioned is not a Wadi drive its a normal highway going all the way to Fujairah. Also the drive to Showka Dam is a normal road there is no danger of landslide or any such mishap along the way. I was just there last weekend. Anyway this was just a suggestion if you have any shutterbugs in your group as its a more scenic drive. If possible will try join you guys.

It's interesting that a lot of power modifications are illegal but it's something I see a lot of. A guy who lives opposite me has a SWB patrol and he has fitted a big turbo to it. It's pretty obvious because of the huge intercooler behind the bumper. Then there's the dump valve every time he lifts off the throttle. It's impossible to miss. It does sound awesome though. Engine remaps are also widely available too and everyone knows these companies don't exist just to work on race cars. Stickers being illegal is another interesting issue because it's something I also see every day. Some are nice and suit the car but some are just plain tacky. So just how illegal does illegal really mean or is it usually a case of wasta?

@Gaurav An alternate and interesting route to consider would be taking the sharjah kalba road. This is a newly built road with tunnels on the way. Its a very scenic drive as well. Also on the way you can pass by Wadi Shawka Dam which a nice picnic spot.

It is brilliant to see so many valid points of view, but one thing disappearing from this world is patience, and that stands true when it comes to driving also. I have been driving in the UAE since 1994, that is 23 years now and every year I find the patience is running out a little bit more than the previous year. Plus the different styles of driving from different parts of the world, the driving culture here is not the best, but with time and patience everything can be sorted. i was surprised when i was driving in Europe and I gave an indicator to come to the over-taking lane and the car in the over-taking lane slowed down to give me way, as soon as I completed over-taking the car and moved to the right the driver behind me speeded up and over-took me. In UAE if I indicate that I want to take-over, even if the car in the over-taking lane is 2-3 cars away from me, they would rush in not to give me way and opportunity to change my lane. It seems here that everyone thinks that the lane they are in is theirs and do not want anyone else to use it. Another example is I was on a red signal and while waiting an interesting topic came up and I lost track of when the signal turned green. Not a single person in behind me honked at me, one of my passenger's pointed out that signal was green and I moved out a little embarrassed from that incident. If I am in the same situation here, I would be honked at when the signal turns amber at the other junction asking me to race off as soon as our signal turns green. Simple equation is there is no more patience in driving. For instance, when I want to overtake, I so not use my high beam, from a distance I give my left indicator which is little less offensive and demanding and little more pleasing to the car ahead, and due to the distance he has time to move. If the indicator does not work, my next step is to use my high beam to make him aware that I need to over-take him, if that does not work either than I use my honk. i do all this from a little distance and do not tailgate any cars. As pointed out slow drivers in fast lane are a problem in UAE, but so are tailgaters. 2 wrongs never made a right. We should at least take a pledge among us not to tailgate anyone, and at the same time if we have place to give way to the car approaching behind us to overtake us. Someone has to start the right culture for it to catch on, lets us be the pioneers of a good driving culture in the UAE.

Please count me in guys.

Do you mind explaining why Pajero is a nightmare? Is it from performance perspective or in general maintenance up-keeping.

@Gaurav brilliant video ! Clearly shows how good the drive was and how well organised. Looking forward to the next @Carnity adventure. We need the secret recipe for @Rahimdad chicken !

@Gaurav I agree with you.. Proper highway driving dictates that one should only use the outer lane for overtaking. You don't sit on the outer lane constantly if you are on a cruise. Drivers that choose to disregard the speed limit (even the 20 kph grace), should be freely able to use the outer lane. We should give way. If fines are not going to stop them, what else will? However when the car in front is driving at 20 kph above the posted speed limit, and does not see an opening in the next lane, where does the law breaking driver expect the guy in front to go? I once noticed a Nissan Patrol nearly bump off a car in front. He was flashing and honking at the guy, but at the same time, the lane to the right was completely full, there was no space. Finally when the guy got the space and moved off, the Patrol overtook, came in front of the guy and held the brakes. Typical Abu Dhabi maneuver... I know that UAE has put up those smart cameras that will catch tailgaters, but so far it has not worked in stopping the creeps. Perhaps the guys who tailgate on the slow lanes hope to try to speed past the camera and not get caught; except for the fact that they are held up by those who drive at the sign-posted limit or lesser. @Hassam Tariq If the speed in between the digital readout and the analog is more than 2 - 3 kms, you're best asking the service center to check and calibrate it.

This I blame on the car manufacturers. I've often been told the analog speedometer show numbers more optimistic as compared the car's real speed. The main thing is that cars come here with certain options. If you spec up your car at the dealer like putting larger rims, etc., then you need to re-calibrate your car's speedometer. Most of the time this is not done. I do not know if this imbalance is done on purpose. Probably is, but you know that when someone then upgrades or updates their car's wheels and tires, makes it worse. If your car has digital read out of the speed, then please use it. If you see a difference in between the analog and the digital readouts, then do visit your service dealer and ask them to re-calibrate it. Its not a hard thing to do.

Dash cams are now legal in UAE, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/dash-cameras-legal-in-uae The most important thing to do is stay calm. Dont let them goad you into driving faster, stick to a speed you're comfortable with. Sorry mr police man, I had another car up my ass isn't an excuse that will get you off with a speeding fine. If you can, pull to the right and let the idiot past. Don't get too close to the car in front either. It's bad enough if you happen to get rear ended but it's even worse getting sandwiched. There's a chance you won't walk away from it. There is also the temptation to brake test them but just remember that if they're already up your ass over the speed limit and flashing their lights, there's a chance that they're not a particularly well adjusted or civilized human being and you could end up with a broken jaw next time the traffic flow stops. For some reason, certain people turn into big assholes when they get behind the wheel.

You are right of course, but it could be argued that you are not filming any a person- you are recording a dangerous, illegal act, which tailgating clearly is. After all, shopping malls record everyone coming through the doors, and they sure as hell do not have anybody's permission.

Indeed, but my answer of Japanese has a lot more to do with reliability than just oil leaks. I've never owned an American car and with good reason, from working on them I find them to be shoddily built from cheap materials. I've owned plenty of German cars, I have a real passion for older VWs but from working on newer VWs I'd never own one, they're always broken. Same goes for Mercedes and BMW, I've owned older ones but I'd never buy a newer one. I've owned loads of Japanese cars, never really had any passion for any of them but they always just worked when I needed them to. In my opinion, Toyota build the best cars in the world. Still doesn't mean I don't find them lacklustre and dull though.