Summer Camping In The UAE And Oman

As many expats head home to cooler climes for the summer, there are many more who stay in the UAE throughout the hottest months. Many of these will still venture into the desert with their 4x4s, heading home after a moonlit BBQ; a handful of others will attempt to camp overnight in the sandpit.

- Marina Bruce

I consider an August camping trip as a rite of passage – you cannot truly empathise with the Emiratis of the old days unless you experience first-hand the weather conditions they had to endure. One doesn’t want to be too authentic though – I don’t have access to camels, so I have to use my 4x4, and since I am using it I might as well load up my fridge and shower!

Always choose an elevated campsite – a light breeze will help keep you cool. If there are plants around then chances are there will be flies and possibly even mosquitoes, so take some cheap firewood and set it alight – you certainly will not need it for warmth, but the smoke will keep the beasties away.

The sand will be hot, hot, hot, so resist any urge to pitch your tent as soon as you arrive at sundown, instead wait until two or three hours after sunset. The groundsheet of your tent will hold the warmth in the sand, so you will be cooler overnight if you set up your camp once it is dark.