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While offroading, we cross dunes by using different methods, based on how the dune is formed and what the drive level is. Once you have spent some time in the desert, you will slowly start to pay more attention to the dune formations and how we cross them. Once you reach Intermediate and Advance level, you'll need to start learning how to read these dunes in order to navigate and create your planned routes in the desert. As a rule of thumb, the prevailing wind in UAE is blowing from a North-Western direction to South-East direction from 10AM onwards. At night and in early morning it will be reversed and blow from the South-East to North-West. This is something you should remember and you will notice when you zoom into certain areas with your navigation app (Google Maps, Gaia, MotionX, Mytrails,...) you will notice that the wind from that side has caused the dunes to take on their shape. This is a general rule and will not always apply, as you will see that in certain areas where wind is coming from different directions, you will see for example "star" dunes appearing. There are different types of dunes which are separately described below. As you can see in below picture, a dune is formed when the prevailing wind blows on a mound of sand, where the grain will move into the wind direction and create a ridge. The sand which falls on the other side of the ridge, creates a slipface, and this sand is not compacted by the wind. This is the main reason why we generally drive on the prevailing wind side or the convex side of the dunes on the Newbie level. "A dune is a curiously dynamic creature," wrote Farouk El-Baz in National Geographic. “Once formed, a dune can grow. It can change shape and move with the wind. It can even breed new dunes. Some of these offspring may be carried on the back of the mother dune. Others are born and race downwind, outpacing their parents. [Source: Farouk El-Baz, National Geographic, February 1982] The shape of dunes is affected by things like the strength, direction and consistency of the winds; the consistency and amount of sand; the hardness of the terrain and the amount of vegetation. Below we will describe the most common dunes found in the UAE. Different Dunes Crescent or Barchan Dune This is the most common dune. It forms the shape of a crescent moon when the wind blows from one direction. We generally use the words concave and convex to describe both sides of the dune: * Concave is a shape that curves inwards. * Convex is a shape that curves outwards. Crescent-shaped mounds generally are wider than long. On the concave side you will have the slipface. These dunes form under winds that blow from one direction, and they also are known as barchans. Parabolic Dune A parabolic dune is similar in shape to a barchan, but it is just the opposite. The tips of this dune point into the wind, and its main body migrates with the wind, forming a depression between the tips. Because of this formation, parabolic dunes are also known as blowout dunes. These dunes often occur when vegetation stabilizes sediments and a U-shaped blowout forms between clumps of plants. Example of Parabolic dunes near Faya: https://goo.gl/maps/ob8xu3y8VJJvF6hk8 Longitudinal or "Seif" Dunes They are also often referred to to as "sand ridges" or "seifs". Their length can range from a few meters to many kilometers and their height from a couple meters high to a couple hundred meters high. Wind pushes the sand and forms ridges parallel to the prevailing wind direction with slip faces either side of the crest. Linear dunes are straight or slightly sinuous sand ridges typically much longer than they are wide. They may be more than 160 kilometers long. Linear dunes may occur as isolated ridges, but they generally form sets of parallel ridges separated by miles of sand, gravel, or rocky interdune corridors. Some linear dunes merge to form Y-shaped compound dunes. Many form in bidirectional wind regimes. The long axes of these dunes extend in the resultant direction of sand movement. Barchanoid Dunes These ridges are similar to Barchan dunes. They are connected in long crescentic waves as the sand supply is much greater than that which forms a Barchan Dune. Star Dunes These dunes are formed when there are several prevailing wind directions - there is a complex wind regime. Typically there are three or more slip faces, whilst the dunes do not migrate they grow in height. Star dunes are radially-symmetrical, spyramidal sand mounds with slipfaces on three or more arms that radiate from the high center of the mound. They are created when the winds blow equally from every direction, causing the sand dune to grow many extensions and resemble a star. They are rare and are fairly stable and remain in the same place. Some are landmarks with names. Example of a Star dune: https://goo.gl/maps/jRnYghQc8ACzVz6T7 With this knowledge, the next time you step into the desert, you can start looking at the different dune formations, and this will give you lots of knowledge that you'll be able to apply in the future when leading and navigating off-road drives.

Good Morning all, Great convoy for a perfect morning drive. @Danish Mohammad we did miss you buddy, JFYI I keep 4 alarms with 3 minutes gap. Thats how bad I am to wake up early @Lakshmi Narasimhan did a wonderful second lead, perfect gap and always attentive on the radio. Thanks again. @Humayun Ghias and @Rawad had some initial hiccups but once after they warmed up, hardly heard them on the radio. I must really say you both did great with your beasts. @Darren Brooke love your car buddy. Hope you had fun. @Wrangeld Richard, great to have you as our CF and trust me, I never have to worry about the convoy thinking that we have you. Thanks again!! @Russ @JeromeFJ @Ranjan Das @Werno , hope all you guys had fun at the back. Hardly heard you guys on the radio. Except the roar from the raptor @Abdul Rahman AK our eagle eye in sweep , did a perfect job and which made me relaxed whenever he says " Convoy is all good from the back" We covered close to 49kms in 3Hrs 32 Mins. Well done everyone. No Problem buddy, it happens. See you soon in the sand.

Dr. @Chaitanya D & bro @Lakshmi Narasimhan, you both inspired and ignited the passion for my drives! 😄 Looking forward to driving with you again some time. @Karthikeyan Govindarajan bro, i may have done this as a response to @Mus_hus78's challenge, but i had a consulting talk with Marshal @Frederic last night: it's not about driving fast & technical all the time, and that's why I sometimes joined the Newbie drives... you can still learn some things from a drive which is not your "status" level. Don't fret about no Fewbie this week in AD, there is still Marshal @Srikumar's Newbie drive this weekend: you can learn a lot from being 2nd lead or Sweeper. Plus when I was driving Newbie with @Asif Hussainbhai, he "inserted" a couple of challenges into it, so it's still fun even though not to the "status" level 😁

Congrats @Farouq Owdeh.. i am left with no company in Fewbie drives anymore. Due to lack of fewbie drivers, this week no fewbie drive scheduled in Abu Dhabi

Well I got the replacement and a spare sensor just in case…. And yes @Zed the filter box was atleast half full when we opened it… i am going through different forums on pajero to find a way to reduce the sand intake… Maybe a snorkel or additional layer of filter…. Still some more research to do…. Thanks @Srikumar for the awesome drive… I was still thinking it was an intermediate drive for the first 10 mins…thanks for finding a quick exit …thanks @Lorenzo Candelpergher @Zed @Lakshmi Narasimhan foR helping out with the car… Well driven everyone!! my car is fine now and ready for the next adventure with the sweihan boys!!! Until next time!! 🤟🏻

My drives journey has hit a milestone. I have scored half century this past Friday. While my drive count shows 51 on the forum - I was absent on one afternoon drive, which was my 2nd drive of the day. These are a snapshots of my drives till date. Looking forward to many many more. Any and all criticisms are welcome.

Congratulations @Zed for reaching the Fewbie Plus Level with Carnity Offroad Club. Looking forward to seeing you growing further and helping others to learn the art of offroading in a safe environment. Please make sure your Carnity user profile is always updated with all the latest Emergency contact details. P.S. Trip lead might deny your participation if you don't have required off-road gear. FEWBIE PLUS Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 10 Fewbie drives are required within last 6 months for Fewbie Plus promotion. What you'll learn Advance dune and sand reading Advance recovery techniques Rocking and crawling to make path Learn to flatten/compact soft sand patch Self recovery from crest Advance side sloping and long hill climb Advance ridge riding and criss crossing Advance control over technical dunes Slightly faster pace desert driving FULLY control and avoid fishtailing Never fight or challenge gravity Skills required Enthusiastic and positive attitude Willingness to learn and help others Extremely attentive and focused while driving Car Worthiness Any 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle Bash plate and skid plate protected Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor. Drive teamwork Manage second lead and sweep positions upon request Intuitive and proactive to support Trip Lead Observe recoveries and offer help, when needed Drive Joining Join Newbie, Fewbie and Fewbie Plus drives Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive

Congratulations @Farouq Owdeh for reaching the Fewbie Plus Level with Carnity Offroad Club. Looking forward to seeing you growing further and helping others to learn the art of offroading in a safe environment. Please make sure your Carnity user profile is always updated with all the latest Emergency contact details. P.S. Trip lead might deny your participation if you don't have required off-road gear. FEWBIE PLUS Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 10 Fewbie drives are required within last 6 months for Fewbie Plus promotion. What you'll learn Advance dune and sand reading Advance recovery techniques Rocking and crawling to make path Learn to flatten/compact soft sand patch Self recovery from crest Advance side sloping and long hill climb Advance ridge riding and criss crossing Advance control over technical dunes Slightly faster pace desert driving FULLY control and avoid fishtailing Never fight or challenge gravity Skills required Enthusiastic and positive attitude Willingness to learn and help others Extremely attentive and focused while driving Car Worthiness Any 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle Bash plate and skid plate protected Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor. Drive teamwork Manage second lead and sweep positions upon request Intuitive and proactive to support Trip Lead Observe recoveries and offer help, when needed Drive Joining Join Newbie, Fewbie and Fewbie Plus drives Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive

Most of us weren't morning person incl. myself but things changed after the first drive. Force yourself for first drive and soon you will be unable to sleep on thu night, again and start checking alarm 5 min before the set time. 😀

This mainly depends on the availability of the trip leads, of which some are now taking a well deserved break. Furthermore, the temperatures in the afternoon in July and August are still well above 40 degrees Celsius, which makes off-roading more challenging for the vehicles and also for the members if recoveries are being done. I am also not a morning person but gladly take a morning drive where the temps are still somewhat acceptable and we can exit by 09:00 before it really becomes scorching hot.

Congratulations @Charbel for reaching the Fewbie Level with Carnity Offroad Club. Looking forward to seeing you growing further and helping others to learn the art of offroading in a safe environment. Please make sure your Carnity user profile is always updated with all the latest Emergency contact details. P.S. Trip lead might deny your participation if you don't have required off-road gear. FEWBIE Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 5 Newbie drives are required within last 3 months for Fewbie promotion. What you'll learn Basic dune and sand reading Self-recovery techniques Shoveling at right place Crawling out of difficult situations Blip Blip - Coordinate steering and gas control Basic side sloping and hill climb Basic ridge riding and criss crossing Basic control over technical dunes Slightly faster pace desert driving Ability to manage stuck/refusals with radio Learn to control and avoid fishtailing Never fight or challenge gravity Skills required Enthusiastic and positive attitude Willingness to learn and help others Presence of mind and attention to detail Car Worthiness Any 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor. Drive teamwork Manage second lead and sweep positions upon request Intuitive and proactive to support Trip Lead Observe recoveries and offer help, when needed Drive Joining Join Newbie and Fewbie drives Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive

Congrats @Zed

congratulations @Farouq Owdeh

@Farouq OwdehCongratulations!

@ZedCongratulations!

Congrats @Zed… such a fastracked progress. Due to lack of fewbie drivers, this week no fewbie drive scheduled in Abu Dhabi

Congrats @Farouq Owdeh!

Aiwa @Farouq Owdeh, Mabrook👍

vow @Zed well done

Congrats @Zed!

Congratulations @PaoloMaraziti for reaching the Fewbie Plus Level with Carnity Offroad Club. Looking forward to seeing you growing further and helping others to learn the art of offroading in a safe environment. Please make sure your Carnity user profile is always updated with all the latest Emergency contact details. P.S. Trip lead might deny your participation if you don't have required off-road gear. FEWBIE PLUS Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 10 Fewbie drives are required within last 6 months for Fewbie Plus promotion. What you'll learn Advance dune and sand reading Advance recovery techniques Rocking and crawling to make path Learn to flatten/compact soft sand patch Self recovery from crest Advance side sloping and long hill climb Advance ridge riding and criss crossing Advance control over technical dunes Slightly faster pace desert driving FULLY control and avoid fishtailing Never fight or challenge gravity Skills required Enthusiastic and positive attitude Willingness to learn and help others Extremely attentive and focused while driving Car Worthiness Any 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle Bash plate and skid plate protected Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor. Drive teamwork Manage second lead and sweep positions upon request Intuitive and proactive to support Trip Lead Observe recoveries and offer help, when needed Drive Joining Join Newbie, Fewbie and Fewbie Plus drives Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive

Congratulations @Nihal17 for reaching the Fewbie Plus Level with Carnity Offroad Club. Looking forward to seeing you growing further and helping others to learn the art of offroading in a safe environment. Please make sure your Carnity user profile is always updated with all the latest Emergency contact details. P.S. Trip lead might deny your participation if you don't have required off-road gear. FEWBIE PLUS Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 10 Fewbie drives are required within last 6 months for Fewbie Plus promotion. What you'll learn Advance dune and sand reading Advance recovery techniques Rocking and crawling to make path Learn to flatten/compact soft sand patch Self recovery from crest Advance side sloping and long hill climb Advance ridge riding and criss crossing Advance control over technical dunes Slightly faster pace desert driving FULLY control and avoid fishtailing Never fight or challenge gravity Skills required Enthusiastic and positive attitude Willingness to learn and help others Extremely attentive and focused while driving Car Worthiness Any 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle Bash plate and skid plate protected Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor. Drive teamwork Manage second lead and sweep positions upon request Intuitive and proactive to support Trip Lead Observe recoveries and offer help, when needed Drive Joining Join Newbie, Fewbie and Fewbie Plus drives Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive

Well done @Farouq Owdeh !!

Congratulations @Farouq Owdeh

Congratulations @Zed

Well done @Zed !

Congrats @Zed, very well deserved...

Thanks again @Anish S, @Frederic and everyone else for the wonderful drive yesterday. It was filled with challenge, adventure and fun. Also got a taste of the night driving experience as well. I've been on your third fewbie drive so far @Anish S, and each of them has been slightly different from each other... the common theme however was the fun i had on all of them. Keep up the great work.

Congratulations @Zed. Bro well deserved. Enjoy and yes true off-roader is a life time learner . A developer in every day life and a philosopher to every trip weather solo or among his folks 👍

Absolutely @Zed, we always learn from every drive, even it is not in our levels. But we strive to take drives at our level to be eligible for promotion🤪 now i will have to take fewbie drives only in dubai I believe

@Farouq Owdeh congratulations!👍

Well done @Zed yountruly deserve this…. Looking forward for many morE drives with you!!! All the best

Congratulations @Nihal17

Congratulations @Zed,

Congrats @Zed

Congrats @Nihal17

@Nihal17Congratulations!

Thank you all 😁

Congrats @Nihal17

Congrats @Zed well deserved

Congrats @Farouq Owdeh

@Nihal17 congratul👍ations

Congrats @Nihal17!

Great drive yesterday guys! Enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks to @Anish S and @Frederic , lot’s of experience gained yesterday👍🏼

Awesome post @Frederic, every time I read this topic I gather more information. Thank you !

BRAVO Paolo 👍. Well done!!

Congrats @PaoloMaraziti, lets have some FB+ videos from you in the forum now..

@PaoloMaraziti congratulations well done

Good you comeback to read and even made a checklist of it. 👍 Most dont read anything at all, as they think offroading is same as driving on szr.

@Frederic Impressive article indeed👍...