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Trip Report – Bateen Liwa Drive The most awaited trip to Bateen Liwa is always a thrilling experience for me, and this time was no different. A big thanks to everyone who joined the drive, you all played a part in making this adventure possible. @Sam Selim was my second lead, giving precise corrections whenever he saw me struggling. You did an amazing job, taking every line flawlessly. @Shahid Mehmood @nithish468 you both drove fantastically and handled all the technical and massive dunes with confidence. @Zsolt @Andrew John Melvill @Glenn W fantastic job, whenever i got a chance to see your moves behind, you guys took the line precisely with ease, your moves were smooth, precise, and controlled. Keep it up! @Zed having you in the convoy is always a pleasure. As usual, you kept us entertained and smiling throughout the drive. And yes, this time you kept giving us small heart attacks every now and then while cracking your LC 😀 @Aser @ChrisW thank you for keeping a close watch at the back and ensuring no one was left behind. Fantastic job guys and giving the right directions to climb those extremely tricky soft and technical areas. It was an awesome drive and a great display of teamwork by everyone. For those who haven’t seen the dunes of Liwa, I would describe them in one word: SCARY. But there’s nothing to fear, if you drive sensibly and understand dune formations, you can scale even the massive ones. Massive pockets appear one after another, and it’s impossible to scale the dunes without going into those massive and scary pockets. But with team work we had, we handled it beautifully Well done, everyone.... Oh yeah, how can I forget the moment of the day, when I lost my phone in the dunes of Liwa. At one point I dropped it without realizing and kept driving. After covering a good distance, I suddenly noticed my phone was missing. We searched everywhere inside the car, outside car, and tried calling it, but no luck. Even Zeddy tried locating it from his device, but the last location didn’t show up.(Sorry Zed i gave you my old email ID thats why the new device wasn't appearing) Finally, we decided to backtrack and there it was, lying in the sand with a massive tyre print from Sam’s Rubicon on it. Luckily, it survived without a scratch and is still working fine. Once again, Well done everyone! See you again soon!

Well, it’s taken a couple of days to come back to it, but that was an excellent drive for many reasons. First and foremost, thank you to @Asif Hussain for the experienced and calm leadership. I really liked the point you made in our opening brief - Liwa is nothing to be scared of, but it will test us. …and it did! For many it was their first time down there - well done, everyone kept calm and put their earlier experience to work. Whilst our initial progress was problematic, once everyone had become fully accustomed to their cars, the sand and the scale, the second half flowed far better. It was great seeing you again @Zed and thank you kindly for the tailgate buffet! @Aser thanks for keeping me company down the back too! Here’s a short video with some highlights of our trip:

DRIVE PLAN “Encircling the Sun” – An Off-Road Expedition Around the Maktoum Solar Park Across 3–4 thrilling convoy drives, our off-road club will take on a unique desert challenge: a full circumnavigation of the massive Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park — the shimmering heart of Dubai’s clean-energy frontier. This is not just a drive; it’s an adventure that blends futuristic landscapes with timeless desert wilderness. Drive 1 — Into the Golden Quiet - Faqa To Crescent Moon - 7 Dec 2025 We begin our journey on the Southside, in an area called "Faqa", where the dunes roll softly and long, flowing sandy tracks lead us toward the horizon. The solar park’s iconic towers glint in the distance like a desert mirage, guiding us as we carve our first arc around its perimeter. Expect wide sandy plains, greenery and shrubs and those perfect “golden hour” moments where dust trails glow behind the convoy. We request every member who joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette, and responsibilities. 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 First time with Carnity Off-road Club: Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Color, and Year. Do you have any prior off-road experience? If yes, pls share details. Confirm your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks/eyelets. Advise if you don’t have a programmable radio and a safety flag. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING DRIVE DETAILS Level: Absolute Newbie, Newbie and above When: 28 Sept 2025, Sunday Meeting time: 7AM - Sharp (Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RUyqiyNg5gSjtaBf8 Approximate finish time: 11:00 AM approx. 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 (for yourself), smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Mandatory off-road gears: Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 12 cars only. 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 THE CALENDAR

Congratulations @Soap this is great news, look forward to some FB+ drives together

Congratulations @Zahid Sharif, enjoy the FB+ level!

Well deserved @Zahid Sharif !

It was indeed an eventful drive with lots of adventures to experience and learning for all of us from the start till the end . there is no doubt that nothing is certain once you enter the desert 🌵 but what is certain is that the spirit of team work and responsibility toward supporting each others makes the solutions to all obstacles a reality and an unforgettable memory with its sweetness and bitterness. I am truly glad that @Mahesh_ and his wife got away intact from this roll over with God Grace . Big appreciation and massive thanks to @Ishak and @Frans M for their immaculate coordination during the recovery which was not easy at the top of the dune as well as their calmness and attentive mode handling it in professional step by step fashion. thanks extend to all the convoy members for their patience till this was all over and we all exited safely. we always fall to rise again stronger than ever and I hope to see you soon all in the sand again . cheers 🌹 Seidam

Congratulations @Soap! Enjoy the new level and the learning opportunities that come with it.

Congratulations @Zahid Sharif! Enjoy the new level and the learning opportunities that come with it.

As am I, dear Sir, as am I!

Congratulations @Zahid Sharif!

Congratulations @Zahid Sharif 💪

Good news Gaurav, thanks for the quick processing as well, just before the calendar goes live again..! Very much looking forward to the continuation of this enjoyable learning adventure in this wonderful community. Hope to meet you out there again soon!

Well it took me 8 months to convince my wife and son to come on a drive. I guess they chose the right one! Everybody really enjoyed and now even looking forward to the next one! 😁 Thanks @Gaurav, @Srikumar and the whole convoy for a fun day out!