Emiratis and expats team up for camel adventure
500km trek seeks to ‘spread word of our culture’
A team of Emiratis and expatriates today set off on a 10day, 500-kilometre camel trek through the desert.
The expedition is organised and supervised by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, with Emirati explorers Ahmed Al Qassimi and Mohammed bin Taryam.
“The objective of this trek is to provide an unforgettable experience that helps to spread word of our culture. There is a clear need for such an expedition because it takes participants back to the olden days, when our ancestors led a far more nomadic lifestyle and transported goods in an altogether different manner,” Mr bin Taryam said. “At the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, we strive to revive our heritage and history among the UAE community at large, in order to come to the collective and full realisation that it is of fundamental importance to our present, and our future. It promises to be great fun for all of the adventure enthusiasts on this trip.”
Mr Al Qassimi said he hoped this year’s expedition would be as smooth as last year’s trek, when a group travelled 400km without accident nor injury.
“I expect we’ll achieve a better result and be even more successful this year due in many ways to the expertise we have gained, including the selection of the very best camels and a longer training period for the participants.” Team members have bonded with their camels and been trained how to properly deal with animals. French expat Charlotte Sarrazin is taking part. “I’m a very sporty person and I wanted to try something new,” she said.
“I’m also going on this expedition because I’ve been in Dubai for three years and I want to know more about the culture here. I’ve learnt so many things about the heritage and history since I started this training programme. It is truly amazing.”
There is a clear need for such an expedition because it takes participants back to the olden days
Mohammed bin Taryam
Emirati explorer