The Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive 2025 returned on February 15-16 with hundreds of off-roaders descending on Tilal Swaihan in Al Ain. A fixture for desert adventure in the UAE since the event’s inception almost four decades ago. Now in its 43rd running, this desert loop remains one of the Middle East’s signature enthusiast weekends, not a race but a unique blend of trail challenge, community camping, and family-friendly thrills. Developed to invite both first-time dune drivers and seasoned sand bashers, the Fun Drive is a bit like an annual trust fall for the region’s off-roading culture: you show up, commit to looping through new terrain, and rely on marshals and organizers to keep it fun and safe.

Heading into this year’s drive, the community talk was that the organizers would shake things up: a reversed route, new stretches of desert, and a carefully dialed balance between soft sand challenges and accessible tracks. Tech-minded folks (myself included) wondered how the cooler winter weather, revised loop, and surface evolution would impact tire pressures, cooling demands, and traction. Given that the route clocked in at about 145 km round-trip, there was anticipation whether the “accessible to all” philosophy would hold up against the promise of extra adventure.

From Saturday’s flag-off, the revised Tilal Swaihan loop set the tone. Groups navigated stretches of untouched sand, marshals provided steady support, and the mood at the campsite pulsed with music, food, and hands-on sponsor activations. Early evening saw a desert-themed cake-cutting; sunset delivered live entertainment, competitions, camel rides, and a fire dance. While families were well represented, the 2025 edition did see a noticeable increase in younger drivers, including more bachelor groups and dune buggy teams. New route sections and surface variability kept even confident off-roaders alert, but with marshals on standby and regular checkpoints, breakdowns and bog-downs were quickly sorted, and nearly all entrants reached the finish with spirits high. A few opted for the “escape route” provided toward the end, but almost everyone stuck it out thanks to good planning and the winter-friendly weather. The loop format, newly reversed sections, and improved support logistics made for smoother transitions between challenge, rest, and fun.

Conditions supported solid performance all around: crisp February air meant engines and cooling systems stayed out of the danger zone, while the desert surface ranged from firm-packed stretches; good for clean momentum flow; to pockets of soft sand that demanded deft throttle and precise tire deflation (most ran pressures between 10–15 psi for optimal floatation and grip). The route’s orientation favored less direct sun exposure, reducing thermal soak risk, especially for newer vehicles. Sitting at camp that night, those of us with a materials or paint protection engineering obsession couldn’t help but note how the abrasive wind and sand posed exactly the kind of wear that keeps me in business; protection film not just a luxury but a desert necessity if you like your clearcoat as much as your sidewall.

As the event wrapped on Sunday morning, participants restored tire pressures, prize giveaways were handed out, and group photos snapped. The expectations versus reality theme was clear: the new route and fresh surface stretched what “family-friendly” looks like in the desert, delivering more challenge without sacrificing the Fun Drive’s legendary inclusivity. Nearly all registered entrants completed the course, no major incidents were reported, and applause went to the organizing team for engineering an event that once again brought together new drivers, repeat enthusiasts, and trusted sponsors. In the box score: Over 800 cars, a near-100% finish rate, zero serious mishaps, and memories set across 145 kilometers of Al Ain’s best dunes.

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Wessen Char is UPPF’s petrolhead who still mourns the loss of Saab (and drove her 9-5 NG till 2025). She travels between US and Europe to cover auto events. She acknowledges the chic tech of EVs but wonders if the inexorable move to everything digital is ultimately all-better. Analogue had more soul somehow :)

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