Introduction

In the UAE, the cooler months of mid- October to mid-May are the best for off-road exploring and camping, making seven months of comfortable adventure possible. While not impossible at other times of the year, the experience may not be as pleasant, although the writer has gone camping in July and August (the UAE’s hottest months) and enjoyed these trips thoroughly.

 Proper preparation and a little experience can minimise the difficulties of summer camping and your vehicle should obviously be air-conditioned and well-maintained to prevent overheating or any other problems along the way.

Successful camping trips begin long before you lock your front door and drive away. The first few trips require more planning than subsequent ones, since it takes a little time to collect all the gear and establish a routine. For this reason, many people first take a few short ‘practice’ trips to establish camp-sites close to home. Doing this with experienced campers is especially helpful.

It’s also recommended that you take copies of passports of all passengers and other identification such as labour cards, driving licences, health cards etc in case of an emergency.