After a tough week at the Dakar Rally 2024, when we didn’t get much sleep, we decided to revisit the Al Ula oasis. We were here last time just eight months ago, and to our surprise, a lot has changed here. The entrance gate to the old town disappeared, and several other parts of the...
We followed Dakar Rally to Yanbu via road #328, then drove to visit our friends in Umluj. From Umluj, we took a more exciting road, #8888, back to Al Ula. So, the photos in this gallery are from several days of driving through this western region of Saudi Arabia.
On the shores of the Red Sea is another new beach destination referred to as the Maldives of Saudi Arabia. The 104 little islands north of the town of Umluj are all about white sands and ancient swaying palms. It is a future diver´s paradise with pristine and almost virgin territory...
After the Dakar Rally final ceremony, we slept on the Dakar beach, and the following day, we moved to Old Yanbu. Yanbu’s history dates back at least 2,500 years, when it was a staging spot on the spice and incense route from Yemen to Egypt and the Mediterranean region. The remnants...
The 46th edition of the Dakar, the 5th to be organized in Saudi Arabia, has finished after more than 4,700 kilometers of specials and a total distance of almost 8,000 kilometers, which tested the riders, drivers, co-pilots, and crews from the ancient city of Al-Ula to the shores of the...
After following the last race of the Dakar Classic, we moved to the final of the Dakar Rally in Yanbu. In total, 239 vehicles (versus 340 that took start) reached Yanbu, including 96 bikes (vs. 132), 7 quads (vs. 10), 55 Ultimate class cars (vs. 70), 3 Stock class cars (vs. 3), 29...
We woke up early and could finally follow the cars to the start of the Dakar Classic in the desert. The reference to the era of the pioneers, anchored in the Dakar history, led to the creation of the Dakar Classic for the 2021 edition.. Vehicles from the 1980s and 1990s were able to...
It was another busy day and night for us to follow the Dakar Rally. The journey from Al-Ula to Yanbu was a significant step, the moment of truth. The leaders were intent on holding firm over the 420 kilometers against the clock, and their pursuers were determined to attack. Ricky Brabec...
Seeing the loop carved out near Al-Ula, starting and finishing at the bivouac where everyone had gathered less than two weeks ago, it was a given that this special would be a wild ride. The timed sector stretched for 371 kilometers on sandy terrain with a need for speed, either on the...
Again, we returned to lovely Al-Ula, where the bivouac was set up for two nights. This is a high-security camp that is assembled each day ahead of the rally and acts as a home base until the last competitor moves on; then, the whole place is torn down and moved by aircraft and trucks to...