New to the sand? Start here.
Go through the steps below, or learn it properly on a beginner course.
Before your first day
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- How to switch 4x4 on
- How to turn traction control off
- Where its rated recovery points are (tie-down hooks are not)
- Its tyre size, and the pressure on the door sticker
- Its ground clearance
- Whether it has diff locks
Your owner's manual says how to switch 4x4 on and turn traction control off.
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A normal licence is enough. A sign or a fence means no.
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Never alone. Register with a club and find its next drive for beginners.
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Choose a green Beginner spot.
Open the map → Where Can Beginners Off-Road Near Dubai? 3 Easy Spots →
The day
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At home: decide
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Heat, rain or a late start can make it a no.
Pack and plan
When Should You Not Go Off-Road in the UAE? → What to Bring for the UAE Desert: A Beginner's Checklist →The Pre-Trip Desert Check: Five Minutes That Decide Your Day →
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When you get to the desert
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A softer tyre floats instead of digging. The right pressure for your car comes on a course.
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The way your owner's manual says.
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Each switch shows a light.
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In the dunes
Never drive the dunes alone.
Desert Heat Safety in the UAE: Water, Timing, Warning Signs →
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Before the road
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On firm ground, before the tarmac.
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4x4 off, traction control back on.
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