UAE volunteers to the rescue of those stranded in the desert
When an exciting trek into the desert turns dangerous, these are the people to whom you turn.
Founded by Emirati Ali Al Shammari, the UAE Rescue group has helped thousands of residents and tourists who went camping or dune bashing but were unprepared for the harsh desert environment.
“A lot of drivers see videos of dune bashing and think it’s easy,” Mr Al Shammari says. “Some are stuck without fuel or because they do not prepare their vehicles and adjust the tyre pressure.”
A former military officer, Mr Al Shammari has been rescuing people for the past two decades from remote and desert areas. About 180 volunteers across the emirates have joined his rescue team.
“A lot of people who camp and go dune bashing in the desert are unprepared for an emergency situation,” he says. “Sometimes their vehicles break down and the recovery services charge a lot of money. One person told me he contacted a recovery service and waited for a long time but no one showed up.
“Another said the recovery company charged him Dh7,000 for pulling his vehicle out of sand in the rain. And few car recovery services provide facilities in remote areas.”
Victims call for help from the group, which has its contact details on Instagram. There are no charges for the volunteers, who collaborate with the Ras Al Khaimah Police in getting victims to safety.
“I have witnessed some cases when a person gets trapped in the desert and loses consciousness due to dehydration,” says Maj Tareq Al Sharhan, director of the emergency department at RAK Police and a member of UAE Rescue.
“It is impossible to send police patrols to all desert areas, so the rescue group has a great role to play.”
Videos of dozens of people assisted by UAE Rescue have been posted on the group’s Instagram account. Some show vehicles that have overturned. In one video, a father thanked the group for helping his family who were stuck in the Sweihan desert. Another said he had struggled for hours trying to move his vehicle.
The team stays connected through mobile messaging apps and shares details, videos and photos of the emergencies they handle. They update each other about the site of the incident.
When they receive a message they send the nearest volunteer. The team first checks whether anyone is dehydrated and asks for a photograph of the vehicle.
Mr Al Shammari advised desert lovers to follow three key points and deflate car tyres before driving on sand dunes, fill up the fuel tank and keep a first aid kit handy.
Police teams also issue warnings to residents who go off-road that they must be equipped with a satellite phone, torches and tools to help lift a vehicle out of the sand.
The volunteers do not confine their rescue efforts to the desert. They have also saved victims from drowning at sea.
UAE Rescue also pitches in to clean up litter from beaches and dunes.
The group cleared 10 tonnes of waste near the Hamra area of Ras Al Khaimah last week.