Richard Hall writes: "Diesel retails at AED 7.70 (£1.06) per imp. gallon vs AED 6.25 (£0.86) for petrol in the UAE so there are few diesel vehicles (especially considering the fuel is back at 1980's UK prices). JB's father probably lives out here if he recommended the Patrol as it is the de facto vehicle of choice for locals and going off road, especially fitted with balloon tyres and driven with their usual reckless abandon. Handling isn't really an issue as most roads are straight and often more than 4 lanes. The maximum speed limit on Abu Dhabi Island is 80km/h with the myriad of speed cameras triggered at 10 km/h over the indicated limit. Fines were recently raised to AED 500 (£80)for being over 10km/h over the limit and increase with each 10km/h. Just as in the UK it's a huge revenue generator with the police (especially in Dubai) now deploying hidden cameras all over the place and speed limits have recently been lowered in an attempt to reduce the impact of the numerous accidents. The Gulf News website has details of most traffic rules and penalties.

For the 90% of the time there is little or no need for a 4x4 except getting 50m closer to the beach (and even then you see plenty of Range Rover Sports and SUV's stuck up to their axles having to be towed out) . Insurance for off road driving is expensive and comes on top of the normal flat 5% of vehicle value charge (there is no "no-claims discount" system) so it is often better to hire a 4x4 for times you need it and provide your own cover just in case you roll it over.

For serious off roading of which there are plenty of enjoyable routes to follow (especially heading to Oman) you are best opting for a base Landcruiser/Patrol with the roll cage, bash plates and high mounted reinforced bumpers fitted. The "Explorer Guide" series has details of routes and locations to visit. It's also a good idea to fit a high mounted air in take or snorkel as during the winter months it
can rain at any time. Having been caught out and having had to ford fifteen fast flowing wadis up to two-three feet in depth in a Peugeot 407 I can say it is a hair raising experience, if something of a thrilling spectator sport but to be fair we were followed all the way from Muscat to Dubai by two fellow Brits in Porsche 911 (which actually float quite well if you duct tape the doors gaps so it can then be towed like a boat). "

Eddie Redfern advises: "I am just back from one of my regular visits to see my son and his family in Dubai, UAE. Whilst I was there I got myself a 6 month UAE driving licence so that I could drive the 8 seat Honda 4x4 and the 7 seat Toyota 4x4 in my son's garage. You can only drive hire cars in the UAE if you have a UK or International Drivers Licence.

The best advice for anyone intending to move to the UAE is to wait until they get there and discuss cars, 4x4's, pick-ups, Hummers etc with the ex-pats who already drive them over there. One example I can give is of the mother I met who bought a new Ford Expedition (which looks much bigger than a Q7) and got rid of it after 6 weeks because she 'could not see out of the back window'. Another reason is that apart from the Discovery3 I cannot remember seeing any 4x4 that we see here in the UK and even the Discovery could have been of a different spec. Most of the 4x4's are from USA manufacturers. One other thing about 4x4's and other cars in the UAE is that they are all petrol powered at 85p per imperial gallon and about 90% are 4x4's."

And Hugh McGauran reckons, "If you think Mercedes, Nissan, Land Rovers etc are good, why are the roads here full of Toyota Land Cruiser Prados (LC in the UK). Having drivin Prados in Dubai for five years and for two years before in south Egypt and having bad experience with a lot of the rivals in conditions where the choice of travel may be matter of life or death it's horses for courses.

The local habit of driving without lights at night as it is considered rude to use lights did not help matters. Even Toyota HiLux without a heavy duty roll over bar do not look very good after rolling over off desert roads. We had three new Land Rover Discoverys but left them parked up. That way they did not break down. On a brighter note when I am back in UK I use my twenty year old 400,000 mile Defender which starts first time after as long as eight months standing not jacked up no battery disconnect, 14 year old battery, serviced once a year still original back tyres."