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Hi desert explorer, @Suneedh Wrangler @Menon Arun @Aringga @Riyad @Eddie-Dune-Glider @Guido Ferriani @Sviatoslav @Noufal @khurramm, Thanks for joining the drive, and special thanks to @Gaurav for approving the transfer of a fewbies from his convoy. We discussed the plan to meet the newbie convoy, and everyone agreed to drive toward Qudra. We started with small switches, followed by straight up-and-down sections, where and thanks to @Khurramm for giving us the opportunity to learn how to recover a crested car. This will be very useful when you go for light desert drives alone to enjoy the sunset or go camping with family. That said, I still recommend going with friends for safety. We didn’t reach the meeting point on time, but @Gaurav found our convoy not far from it, and it was a great moment to gather together. We then continued our drive toward Al Qudra. You all drove very well, congrats to first FB @Aringga and @Menon Arun. All refusals were managed with the help of the car behind, @Noufal and @Mei Ling which made my job much easier. We reached the Qudra play area and climbed the ridge three times, with the last climb exiting to the right so we could gather and enjoy some coffee. Thanks to our second lead, @Suneedh Wrangler, for polishing my track and making adjustments when needed. Thanks to @Guido Ferriani for helping keep me updated from the center. Thanks to @Mei Ling, not only for making sure no one was left behind, but also for spotting @Menon Arun's flag on the ridge. On the way to the exit, we ended the drive on the high side with a couple of side-slopes and rainbows, it was great fun. I saw @Eddie-Dune-Glider @Riyad @Noufal were enjoying a lot 😄. Not to forget, we met the inspector @Frederic during inflation; thanks for checking on us and saying hi to the guys. Thanks to @Sviatoslav for posting the pictures, all of them are amazing. Your wife is truly professional. Guys, check it out here https://carnity.com/gallery/category/2512-fewbie-lisaili-dubai-31-jan-2026/ If you’d like to play and learn again on the ridge, we can revisit the area, starting from Qudra Secret Garden and exiting at the same place 😉.

Thanks @Ishak and support team for a great weekend drive, agree completely with @Suneedh Wrangler doing the sidies and ridge riding more than once allowed us to make corrections and learn better

Took me couple of days but better late than never! Thank you so much @GauravSoni for organizing this drive. Perfectly planned with clear instructions and amazingly executed. Challenging first part of the drive but defenitely showed the quality of the convoy (drivers, cars and in some cases even passengers). We then went to claim our reward in Sweihan’s beautiful dunes and lines with a lot of ridge riding and cress-crossing. Absolutely well done everyone @nithish468@nithish468 @Glenn W @Zulfikhar Naiyar. Big shout out to @Alexanderrr for a great second lead. @ChrisW & @Bjoern for the support and @Beide Worku for making sure that no one left behind. Have a great week everyone and see you again soon in the sand.

Thanks @Ishak for a very nice drive on an afternoon. It was a plesanr surprise to see a Fewbie drive in Dubai (really didnt wanna drive all the way to Abu dhabi on the weekend 🤫) The fun began right away when we stopped to meet Gaurav's convoy in the middle of the desert. Was great to see some old familiar faces there. The fun continued as Ishak continued taking every Ridge he could find on the way. Especially the really long one where we practised riding 3 times! Repeating the same ridge thrice really helps with building the confidence! Had minimal stucks and refusals, so the pace was nice and flowy. Was also fun helping @khurramm and @Ishak sort out their cars on the crests.

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 safety flag. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING Drive Details Level: Newbie and above (NO ABSOLUTE NEWBIES) Meeting time: 8:00 AM Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/cTHmtYxAqW878k5W8 Action Plan: While many drivers aspiring to master off-roading in the UAE are looking to learn how to perform long climbs, side-sloping and dune bashing in general, the way most off-roaders drive worldwide is in the context of overlanding, often for days in a row, to cover long distances where no roads exist. Particularly in the deserts of Northern Africa, where sand is present (but only covers about 20% of the Sahara, for example), dunes are often driven along rather than across, endurance driving is more important than short-term showing off, and dunes are looked at with awe and respect, instead of being gutted and defiled. This drive aims to transmit a little of the passion for overlanding that will come in handy to those who will, one day, choose to cross long distances off-road. At the same time, since we will cross mixed terrains with mainly sandy surfaces, and we'll have to manage some crossings of dunes and bowls, we'll also practice the Newbie skills that are necessary to complete this and any other drive at this level (straight up and down crossings, side-sloping, and some ascents and descents). Covering 100Km is the main goal of the day, while having the opportunity to visit some beautiful areas, with pristine dunes, rock formations, a couple of natural lakes, farms and some local fauna. 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

DRIVE DESCRIPTION-WHAT TO EXPECT Venture beyond the edges of the map and immerse yourself in the vast silence of the Empty Quarter. Over two days we’ll carve our own route through majestic dunes, untouched desert plains, and landscapes that feel both ancient and otherworldly. This is not just a drive — it’s an exploration of one of the most remote and stunning environments on Earth. We will navigate technical terrain, camp beneath star-filled skies, and share unforgettable moments around the fire. This journey blends challenge, camaraderie, and the profound beauty of the open desert. If you’ve ever wanted to disconnect from the city, test your skills, and taste real exploration, this is the drive for you. DRIVE PLANNING Meetup at 8AM in Ghayati: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EmByh8zuVW6vtzULA A Full Day Drive in varied terrain (dunes, plains). Set up camp around 6PM in a quiet area and enjoy the evening together. Second day drive until we reach the exit near Arada. (before noon hopefully). Considering its seriousness to keep you and your vehicle safe, below rules apply: ESSENTIAL PREPARATION: Your car should be in 100% pristine working condition, so double or triple-check everything. Full-size spare tire with a lug wrench to match your wheel nut size and its depth. For aftermarket rims - Your lug wrench also needs to match the wheel nut depth. As it's a long full-day drive, so catch up with enough sleep beforehand. 5-10 liters of water per person. Snacks for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and next day breakfast. Keep your car as light as possible by packing what is truly essential. Fully charged radio with spare battery and all other required off-road gears. FULL MAIN TANK AND 1 JERRYCAN OF 20L. DRIVE DETAILS: Level: Fewbie Plus and above When: 7 and 8 Feb2026 Starting time: 8AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Starting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EmByh8zuVW6vtzULA You can come early and camp at the same starting point if you like. (you can head inside on the same dirt track). Another option is overnight stay at the Western Hotel Al Ghayati. Last petrol station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8HTTs3xEgzZ4c4877 Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. Approximate finish time: Between 11AM and 12AM the next day. ✅ RSVP: Confirm your attendance by clicking on "GOING" in the Calendar Event. Your name will appear on the RSVP list. If the RSVP is full, add yourself to the waitlist. As soon as a spot becomes available you will be moved automatically to the RSVP list. The RSVP closes one day prior to the drive Latecomers will be turned back (no exceptions) No RSVP = No Drive Please withdraw your RSVP if plans change Repeated no-shows may result in 1-month suspension RSVP HERE

Hi experts! @Gaurav@J-P L @Frederic @JeromeFJ @Mark B would love to hear your valuable opinion on this particular climb and its implementation. As i am building my way from newbie rank to marshal 😀 and expanding my knowledge base, I did find this particular video interesting to ask for opinions. My first impression was that this climb is unsafe is on the edge of rollover, the reason i think so is because the rear end of the car is constantly falling behind the nose and most part it is sideways action… The positive thing i see is that driver keeps pushing the gas and steers to the right. @J-P L I remember i got “don’t fight the gravity” warning from you in similar situation, of course on much more lower dune, on mu first drive. would love to hear from you guys! Eating all this info as desert, between the drives 🫣😀 Insta link

Thanks everyone for a lovely afternoon drive - indeed an opportunity to challenge your skills in a fewbie drive without a need to wake up at 4 am is a nice surprise 😃 Added some photos my wife took during the drive to the gallery: https://carnity.com/gallery/category/2512-fewbie-lisaili-dubai-31-jan-2026/

Snapped a quick picture of you stuck up on that dune @Ishak 😁

@GauravSoni first drive of its kind for me and enjoyed every moment of it, speaking for my passenger as well. The convoy was great, pretty much no real hiccup. Thanks again for the great lead and shout out to all the support team members.

Thank you @GauravSoni for an exceptionally well led drive, and shout out to @Alexanderrr for finding a path for the convoy. The first part of the drive through Qudra was definitely a test of patience and determination. The terrain there is technical enough to need concentration and focus, and so bumpy as to beat you up a bit. The following sections through Ajban and into Sweihan were the reward however, with many long flowing lines for us to enjoy. The stats speak for themselves - everyone did a great job keeping the discipline and pace, and you all demonstrated the high level of skill and ability gained for a great many drives. Was a pleasure being out with you all and hope to do so again soon. Here’s a quick selection of clips from our day out:

Drive Report – Hidalgo Mode Activated!! We wrapped up an intense and super-satisfying drive today, starting sharp at 7:10 AM from the dirt track at the Bab Al Shams entry for Qudra. After a quick briefing, we headed straight towards Little Sweihan. The track was extremely bushy with barely any clean sand, but we pushed through as a tight convoy — everyone stuck to the pace and stayed fully committed. For nearly an hour, there were zero refusals and pin-drop radio silence, which says a lot about the group’s focus and flow. We reached the crossover point to Al Ajban, took a short break, and then moved into cleaner dunes. That’s where the action picked up — our first ridge stuck showed up. As soon as post-recovery started, I managed to land myself into a tricky stuck of my own 😄, which was quickly and cleanly recovered. Back on the move, we made it to Nahel by 10:00 AM. With flags removed, we drove a few clicks past Nahel ADNOC, re-entered the dunes, and upped the pace. Clean dunes ahead meant momentum, and we played around some big ones, crossing the Nahel dunes in about 20 minutes. By 10:30 AM, we were heading towards Sweihan via the dirt track, squeezing in a couple more dune plays along the way. The final stretch was pure magic — open, clean dunes towards Sweihan (West Africa entry). The next 15 minutes felt like a trance, and we exited to conclude the drive at 11:15 AM. Huge shout-out to @Alexanderrrfor an excellent 2nd lead — despite long gaps, he followed the track brilliantly, corrected lines when needed, and delivered a perfect tug to recover my car 👌 Absolute pleasure watching @nithish468 — apart from the stuck, you drove with confidence and skill. Bravo! There was hardly any radio chatter, which tells me the center and sweep were having a great time too. Thanks @Bjoern @ChrisW and @Sam Selimfor the solid support and guidance keeping the convoy tight! Well done @Glenn W on your first IM recovery — well earned! And as always, a pleasure driving with @Beide Worku and @Zulfikhar Naiyar. I hope you guys enjoyed the drive with your co passengers. Drive stats: • Total distance: 104 km • Total time: 4 hrs 3 mins • Moving time: 3 hrs 40 mins • Average speed: 25.8 km/h A proper Hidalgo-style drive — endurance, speed, discipline, and flow all coming together. Congratulations to the convoy for completing this epic run! This was one route which had been on my bucket list for a very long time!!! See you guys soon on the dunes! waiting to hear your feedbacks @Alexanderrr @nithish468 @Bjoern @ChrisW @Glenn W @Sam Selim @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Beide Worku!

The Omani guys are well known for this. They are crazy about Xterra and most likely this is VK swap where they swap the stock 4.0 engine with the 5.6 V8 from the Patrol. Additionally they do this in 4Lo on high rpm and only for “insta pleasure”, not a 4 hrs drive like this. You are totally correct this style of driving is extremely dangerous and does not belong in our midst. Imagine your 10 car convoy has to follow your tracks in this drift style 😅

This is a great idea

Most welcome mate, glad you enjoyed and thank you for coming out 🙂

Thank you, @Mark B for this wonderful drive. really enjoyed it.

I think the MVP award goes to your passenger @Beide Worku…that was a tough drive to sit through!