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Biking UAE Style!
By Claire Saunders

First printed in the June 1995 WIMA GB newsletter

A seven year friendship with a language student met at Bournemouth Ice Rink led to an invitation to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March. With some trepidation I left the wet, cold, familiar Dorset winter behind, and a 6 hr flight courtesy British Airways landed me in a balmy desert environment. My friend met me as arranged at the airport, a Hotel had been pre-booked. The first of many surprises, all mod cons including a kitchenette with washer/dryer, satellite TV and swimming pool on the next floor. All apartments seem to be air conditioned as standard. This is a necessity during the hot summer months when temperatures can reach 50 degrees C. A promise of a loan bike materialised as a Harley Sportster, which I found surprisingly easy to manoeuvre once under way. Feelings of guilt crept in, as when he visited us last year all we could muster was a trusty 1976 250 MZ.

The initial foray onto Dubai roads was in the company of The Gulf Harley Owners Group, (HOG) another surprise in a Moslem city.  Their weekends consist of Thursday and Friday and consequently Wednesday Night is the social highlight of the week.  This week's run was to an Irish Pub based 20 Km outside the city, and on the wide empty roads I soon felt at home on the bike.  My personal Z250 Kawasaki felt buzzy and frail compared with this heavy weight twin.  A great evening and a good introduction to driving on the right in hot weather on a strange bike.

The main event during my trip was the Third Annual Charity run for the local Al Noor Handicapped Children's Home.  The first meeting place was a luxurious hotel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai called Jebel Ali.  You could hear bikes droning across the desert road.  Finally after about fifty bikes had arrived, a "Garden Party" style buffet breakfast was enjoyed by a mixed bunch of Arab, American, Iranian, British and Lebanese enthusiasts.  At 10.30 we headed off.  The sight and sound of 50 + bikes peeling off the roundabouts with police stopping traffic to allow the group to stay together, will stay with me for many wet cold English winters.  The straight roads joined by roundabouts led into serious desert in 30 degree brilliant sunshine, a fuel stop after 100km fragmented the main group and made riding easier in groups of 5-10 bikes.  The main dangers to riders in these parts are camels, goats and the undisciplined driving of the locals.

The desert road gave way to flat scrub as we passed through a section of Oman inside UAE. The mountains came into view, jagged rising 2-3 thousand feet, completely hostile, looking like a lunar landscape.  The road became twisty and just as I was realising the limited handling and my lack of experience on the Sportster, the roundabout and turn off for Hatta Fort Hotel came up.  An Indian concierge directed us to a parking area inside the hotel grounds.  By now the temperature and midday sun had everyone seeking shade and a drink.  An excessive sit down lunch was followed by typical silly bike games, where my WIMA T-shirt was recognised by 'Carol' from Liverpool, a lapsed member who is now teaching in UAE.

A great country for bikes and with genuine Arab hospitality and a crime free culture, it would be difficult to find a better holiday destination, I'm saving hard for my next trip!

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