The free run marked the final day of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) that has turned the city into an open gym
uae14 hours ago
A new long weekend trend seems to be catching on in the UAE: More residents are going for escapades into the 'great outdoors', according to agencies who have reported a sharp spike in SUV rentals ahead of the National Day long weekend.
Lebanese expat Arfa Hashem is excited to take his visiting relatives around the UAE's scenic spots. And for that, he had booked an SUV.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
“My sedan is not ideal for this road trip since we will be going to Ras Al Khaimah, Wadi Shawkha, and a couple of other spots in the UAE,” he said.
Hashem, a chef who lives in Sharjah, will soon be busy preparing food, too, for their camping adventure in the desert. “We will also be lighting up the grill for barbeque."
Many other residents seem to be going the same route, with some saying they shelled out as much as Dh1,000 for the rentals.
Jestin Joseph, sales executive at Blue Line rental services, said their SUV fleet is almost fully booked for this long weekend. “It seems like people are excited to break away from the routine and experience something different,” he said.
Tarib Ahmed from Popular Car Rentals agreed, saying many of their customers are "requesting vehicles designed for off-road adventures".
The demand was "remarkable", said Soham Shah, CEO and Founder of Selfdrive.ae. “The data speaks volumes, with a staggering increase of more than 30 per cent in our car rentals during the National Day period compared to the same time frame last year".
“The appeal is evident in the numbers, with a notable uptick in the rental of SUVs and luxury vehicles, witnessing a growth of 25 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively," said Shah.
ALSO READ:
The free run marked the final day of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) that has turned the city into an open gym
uae14 hours ago
The run started little after 6.30am as police vehicles including a cyber Tesla truck led the way to ensure safety
uae17 hours ago
The restrictions have triggered mixed reactions from social workers
uae19 hours ago
Sharing their stories from Ukraine to Illinois, Germany to Kenya, they paint a vivid picture of how motorcycling has become a powerful vehicle for women empowerment in the region
uae19 hours ago
The Ministry of Interior called on the public to seek information from official sources
uae1 day ago
The floating station will feature a modern and contemporary design, inspired by boats and yachts, to facilitate easy access, boarding, and disembarking
uae1 day ago
Regular classes will resume on Wednesday, December 4, announced KHDA
uae1 day ago
A unified platform for drone operations will also be launched, streamlining registration and operational procedures
uae1 day ago