The luxurious lifestyle of Dubai can make you forget that it is still a desert – but then there are desert adventures that are exclusive to this city and a major attraction for people from across the world. This led to the introduction of 4×4 desert driving courses in Dubai as it has become a primary part of the city’s advertisement campaign to attract tourists around the world. Sometimes, off-roading skills might even be necessary for a job prospectus.
Unlike road driving, desert driving poses its own challenges and overcoming them is part of the thrill. Even experienced drivers can face difficulties in manoeuvring the terrain without some training. Hence to keep yourself safe, enrolling in desert driving courses should be your priority.
Desert Driving Courses in Dubai
Various excellence driving schools as well as private entities offer desert driving courses, provided you own your own 4 wheel drive and the necessary equipment to traverse the desert safely.
Even as an experienced driver, it is still worth taking such courses as nothing can take priority over personal safety and preparation.
Getting stranded in the desert is no mundane matter as blowing sand, and exceeding temperature can make it worse. Terrains of the desert can be deceiving as sandy dunes continuously shift in height, and without proper care, you can easily overturn your car.
Institutes with Desert Driving Courses
Let us first focus on some of the best off-road desert driving course in Dubai, authorised by Road and Transport Authority (RTA), as they also offer official licenses to safari guides.
Emirates Driving Institute
To apply for desert driving license in EDI, you must fulfil the following requirement:
- Hold residency of UAE
- Hold a UAE or international driving license with a validity of at least 6 months
- Be at least 140 cm or more in height
Ideally, you should also own best desert driving car to experience off-roading yourself. People with medical conditions like motion sickness and serious back & neck problems should avoid such activity. Once you enrol in the course, EDI will also provide a desert driving kit, proof of attendance and contact card in case of off-road emergency.
Types of Off-road courses by EDI
EDI offers one-day courses to individuals based on their prior driving experience as you learn to drive in the deserts of Dubai
Newcomers or beginners are advised to enrol in its complete course, which consists of both theoretical understanding and practical training. The Essential Course is for one with on-road experience and needs the training to drive on desert terrain. Refresher Course is suited for those already familiar with off-roading and will introduce some advanced techniques.
Additionally, you will be taught some mechanical aspects of the vehicle and a basic understanding of the terrain. Most importantly, professionals will also teach you various practical techniques to overcome difficult situations in the desert.
Registration for Desert Safari Guide
Since the desert safari guide will require an authorised license by RTA, they are required to submit or show the following documentation:
- Original Emirate ID
- Original UAE driving license with at least 3 years of validity
- A copy of passport and resident visa page
- 4 photographs
- Eye test report
- CID letter
- Non-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer and Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM)
Along with this, you must have essential off-roading accessories to avoid any uncertain situation. These accessories will help in making journey smooth and adventurous.
Course Fees
As already discussed, around three different courses are available for the enrolment. You might have to pay less if you drive in a group of two. The charges of one-day certificate course are listed as follows:
- Complete Course – AED 800 per person for a group of two and AED 1500 for one person
- Essential Course – AED 700 per person (two in a group) and AED 1400 for one person
- Refresher Course – AED 700 per person (a group of two) and AED 1400 for one person
In the case of RTA license for desert safari guide, it costs around AED 1685 (w/o VAT) for beginner training and AED 840 for extra training.
Please note that these prices give a brief idea on possible expenses and are susceptible to changes in the future.
Galadari Motor Driving Centre
GMDC is another institute that offers off-roading courses in Dubai. The Galadari desert driving courses are not just limited to residents and safari guides, but tourists can also register. Enrolled personnel will have access to 4 by 4 Land Cruiser along with a training manual.
Professionals from GMDC will share their experience so you can tackle complex situations in the desert.
Types of Courses By GMDC
GMDC has a variety of courses when it comes to desert driving. Based on your profession and experience, you can enrol in the following programmes:
- Basic Course
- Advanced Course
- Emergency Course
- Self-Drive Course
- Team Building Course
- Military Course
- Refresher Course
Most of these courses are self-explanatory, where some programmes are focused on a particular profession or dedicated to getting you out of challenging situations.
Al Ahli Driving Centre
To enrol with their 4×4 desert driving course, you will need a valid Dubai visa, two photographs, NOC, eye test certificate and UAE driving license. According to the institute, the one day course is divided into six stages, which include a pre-examination, basic science of vehicles, usage of desert tools, driving solo or in groups, types of desert sands and how to deal with problems associated with desert driving.
Don’t forget to clear your schedule on the training day, as it lasts from 08:00 am till 05:00 pm.
Additional Institutes
There are various clubs and tour companies that also offer desert driving courses. Most of these courses cover all the basic aspects, as mentioned in previous institutes. Some notable ones include
· Travel & Culture Tours Safaris & Hotels
· Carnity Technology FZE
· Dubai Offroaders
· Civil Academy
· Nomads Tourism FZE
The popularity of desert driving in Dubai is ever-increasing. The adrenaline-pumping activity can certainly bring a thrill to light up your dull life.
Be sure to keep the essential kit for emergency situations on desert trails like shovel, plank, rope and car jack. People often forget safety when driven by adrenaline, this is where training comes in handy to keep you away from uncertainty.
If you want to own your own four wheel drive, check out these used cars for sale in Dubai:
These are all the driving schools offering desert driving courses in Dubai. Stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blog for more information on off-roading.
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