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Gulf News Fun Drive: Revisiting 38 years of dune bashing and fun

Hundreds of participants every year set off to conquer the undulating dunes of the UAE

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Compiled by Devadasan K P, Chief Visual Editor
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A rider negotiates the route's twists and turns during the Gulf News Fin Drive in 1986.
Gulf News archive
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Vehicles queue up at a checkpoint, on January 6, 1989.
Gulf News archive
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Musicians add local flavour to the 1990 edition that began at Jebel Ali Hotel and finished at Hatta Fort Grand Hotel.
Gulf News archive
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Participants take a breather during the 1992 edition.
Gulf News archive
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Gulf News Fun Drive 1992.
Gulf News archive
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Adventurers listen to instructions before the start of the 1997 event, outside the Gulf News office.
Gulf News archive
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A convoy line-up for the Gulf News Fun Drive 1997 at the camp in Dubai.
Gulf News archive
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A convoy of SUVs rolls down a dirt trail, kicking up dust, on December 15, 1999.
Gulf News archive
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Volunteers clear the signboards and other leftovers of Gulf News Fun Drive in the Dubai desert.
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Participants and organisers enjoy dinner at the overnight camp during the event in 2002.
Gulf News archive
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Participants relax on the sand during a Fun Drive event.
Gulf News archive
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A car powers through the sand, expertly driven by specialist off-road driver Zahed Dalati during the 2011 edition.
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People enjoy camel rides at another edition.
Gulf News archive
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Participants at the 39th edition of Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive 2020 enroute Tilal Swaihan in the Al Ain region.
Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News archive
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Participants enjoy the dunes enroute Moreeb dune in Abu Dhabi.
Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News archive
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Participants at Gulf News Fun Drive at Tilal Swaihan on March 5, 2022.
Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News archive

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