Dubai: The Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive will be on January 14 and 15 (Friday and Saturday) and registration opens today (December 31) between 9am and 2pm.
Participation fees is Dh300 per adult and Dh175 per child. The Fun Drive is an event for four-wheel drive vehicles only. A maximum of four passengers plus driver will be allowed.
Participants are reminded to ensure that there are enough seat belts for all passengers.
The registration will be open at the Gulf News offices on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai every day, holidays included. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain participants can register at the respective Gulf News offices between 9am and 2pm on working days only (Sunday to Thursday).
The Fun Drive will start from The Sevens, and the first car will leave at 7am for the eight-hour drive to reach the camp in Dubai. Participants' check-in will start at 6am on the day.
The first cars should reach the camp at around 4pm, where participants will stay overnight and drive home the next day after breakfast, in their own time. there is no off road driving on Day 2.
The Gulf News Fun Drive was designed to give people an opportunity to experience the desert. The first one was held in 1986 and a total of 75 four-wheel drives participated. It is supported by Al Futtaim Motors and supported by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation.
Al Futtaim Motors — Toyota are the main sponsors of the event. Checkpoints are sponsored by Toyota, AXA, Bridgestone, Dubai Duty Free, Emirates Driving Institute, Shell Helix and the Unilever brands Rexona, Lifebuoy and Vaseline.
The Fun Drive numbers and the goodie bags are being provided by Emirates NBD. The Fun Drive is supported by Alco, Byrne, IATC, Lipton, Extra, V-Kool, Panasonic Lumix, Multilink, The Sevens and Wrigley's Extra. Entertainment by Panache.
Catering for the event is being done by Emirates Flight Catering and Jebel Ali Hotel.
The route is mainly over tricky sand and gravel.
