Without training, a leap of faith can turn an adventure into a fatality
Experts are advising adventurers to seek professional help before they take up outdoor pursuits, because the UAE’s skies and landscape can be treacherous for the untrained.
Last month a British man, 76, was injured after crashing his hang glider into a tree in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah, and this month an Emirati man, 36, lost control of his motorised paraglider, falling to the ground.
Last June, Alex Underhill, a 25-year-old British citizen, died while hiking up Jebel Jais mountain. He is believed to have slipped and fallen.
Experts say there is a lack of regulations related to outdoor activities and that untrained members of the public are taking unnecessary risks.
Jos Vandenbroucke, operations manager of SkyHub Paramotors in Dubai, said more regulations would minimise the risks.
“There are no specific regulations for paramotors in the UAE,” Mr Vandenbrouke said.
“Most pilots are flying without a valid licence or certificate and we don’t issue one. But the equipment can be confiscated and people can go to jail if they fly in a restricted area.
“It’s very risky and unsafe to fly any type of paraglider or paramotor without proper training and an understanding of the weather conditions.
“A minimum of 25 hours of training should be done before flying paramotors, while the use of proper equipment can also minimise the risk.”
Mr Vandenbroucke said that it was also important to be familiar with the area and have access to the air map.
“Knowing where you can fly and the restricted areas that can be found on an air map is also important, along with
knowing the right altitude,” he said. “It’s not that easy and you can’t just buy the gear and fly it. Unfortunately, a lot of people do.”
He said all types of paragliders and paramotors could be bought online.
Amy Subaey, director of UAE Trekkers, said there were also no formal rules to regulate hiking in the UAE.
“There are no formalised rules for who can go up the mountains and when, as far as I know, and there are certain trails you should definitely inform the RAK tourism police that you are going to,” Ms Subaey said.
She said other countries had ranger stations where hikers could register their names before entering a site.
“If you are going to any of the national parks in the US, you sign your name in a book to indicate that you have gone in,” Ms Subaey said. “The idea is that they can account for you if you don’t come back, or reach you in case of a weather emergency.”
She said putting up signs and informing the authorities or other people about a trip was advisable.
“These mountains are not like the ones elsewhere in the world and the heat is a killer,” Ms Subaey said. “People are not aware of how much water their bodies need during a hike. I’m constantly telling people to drink lots of water. They need 1 litre an hour.
“There are no marked trails and people are not encouraged to go alone as they can easily get lost, unless they go with an expert and learn it over time.”
She said hikers should learn how to use geographical markers to track their trails and ensure they had the right tools and gear, an emergency plan and an appropriate level of fitness.
“Accidents happen anywhere in the world but being prepared, trained and well informed will help a lot and can minimise the risk.”
In the absence of rules, hikers should inform the police of their route and drink lots of water