Entertainment
UAE’s First Off-Road and Adventure Park XQuarry to Open on Feb 5th in Mleiha

Thrill-seekers and adventure lovers in the UAE can now look forward to a new address! The XQuarry Off-Road & Adventure Park located around Al Faya Mountain in the Mleiha desert in Sharjah is set to open for the public on February 5th and 6th, 2021 offering off-roading thrill, obstacle races, hikes, and remote- control cars, guaranteeing unbeatable fun, action, and adventure.
XQuarry Adventure Park, UAE’s first Off-Road and Adventure Park caters to off-roaders and adventure -seekers with almost 15km of tracks, 20 custom- build off-roading obstacles, a dedicated obstacle running course, mountain bike trails, a remote-control car area as well as hiking trails

Spread across approximately a million square metres of an old cement quarry, XQuarry offers a range of adventurous and fun activities for people of all ages and fitness levels, featuring Off -Roading, Obstacle Running, Mountain Biking, Hiking and Remote-Controlled Cars.

XQuarry Adventure Park provides the opportunity for all to escape the ordinary, explore thrilling and challenging activities and immerse themselves in a fun-filled day amidst magnificent desert scenario. The focus of the park is to provide outdoor training and education for people to learn and master their skills to act safe and responsible in the outdoors.

The XQuarry Off-Road and Adventure Park have been created in close co-operation and strategic partnership with Mleiha and Sharjah Investment and Development Authority – Shurooq (Sharjah Government). Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said, “We are happy to partner with XQuarry in launching UAE’s first Off-Road and Adventure Park in Sharjah. Mleiha, home to rich history and landscapes, is already well-known among travellers for the diverse desert experiences. The new adventure park, being first of its kind in the UAE, will provide a set of completely different experiences for off-roading enthusiasts and adventure lovers and will give more reasons to explore Sharjah’s central region.”

Saoud Al Kaabi, Director and Partner, XQuarry Off-Road and Adventure Park said, “I love the silence and tranquility of the desert and mountains especially after busy days on film sets or events. It’s important for me to share the beauty of my home country with other people and especially, get the younger generation out in nature to explore and experience adventures in a safe environment. XQuarry is just a step in that direction.”

Daniel Birkhofer, Managing Partner, XQuarry Off-Road and Adventure Park said, “We want to help people develop their off-roading skills and technical knowledge to make them better drivers. This applies also to the other activities we offer – whether you experience alone, in groups or with one of our guides does not matter, you will improve your skills and experience fun with new adventures. We are happy that our partners, Sharjah Government and Sharjah Investment and Development Agency (Shurooq) have been highly supportive in helping us materialise this venture, without them this project would not be possible.”

THE OFF- ROADERS can find approx. 15km of off-roading tracks requiring different skill levels as well as technical modifications on the vehicle. The tracks mostly made of gravel and rocks and a mud pit, come with several obstacles for added fun and adventure. Since most of the impressive dunes in the Northern Emirates are just outside the park, visitors can take advantage of the opportunity to combine a desert drive with a park visit. Drive experiences with rented 4×4 vehicles at XQuarry will be available in the second phase of the park opening.

OBSTACLE RUNNING at XQuarry is the most amazing and challenging permanent obstacle course in the UAE. Approximately 2km of running distance filled with different obstacles await the adrenaline junkies and if this is not enough, trail and ultra-runners can extend their running distance by including the hiking trails. The obstacles include climbing, jumping, crawling, swinging, balancing and voila, you might even get wet!

MOUNTAIN BIKING (MTB) at XQuarry is the closest mountain cycling trail to the big cities reachable in less than an hour. There are single trails as well as MTB obstacle trail and what’s more, you can extend the trails outside the park which go beyond 10km. Enjoy a fun ride up and down small hills or meander through the steep curves and bumps to add to the thrill and fun. Rental bikes are expected to be available soon.
HIKING TRAILS abound for thrill- seekers and families with breath- taking panoramic views of the desert. Short family-friendly loops are available for beginners, while the more daring hikers can scramble through the rocky hurdles and cliffs to reach the mountain top.
REMOTE – CONTROL CARS (RC) are another highlight of the park with approximately 500m of custom-built RC tracks along with dedicated shaded areas for the operators and spectators to overlook the track. Additionally, there are race tracks with curves and jumps to compete for the fasted lap and those seeking technical challenges can enjoy the RC Obstacle Track which shall be available in near future.

Bikes
Bollywood Stars to Blaze the Track at Dubai Autodrome for ‘DSBK Middle East Championship’

Dubai is gearing up for an electrifying fusion of speed and stardom as the ‘DSBK Middle East Championship’ takes centre stage at the iconic Dubai Autodrome Racing Circuit on February 2, 2025. For the first time, some of Bollywood’s biggest celebrities will swap the red carpet for racing helmets, promising an adrenaline-pumping showdown like never before. Some of the Bollywood favourite stars, including Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Vivek Oberoi, Gauahar Khan, and Salman Yusuff Khan, among others, will be participating and riding in this high-octane motorsport extravaganza.
The event is equally igniting interest and quickly gaining traction in the country as well, for its never-seen-before blend of Bollywood glamour with the thrill of superbike racing. As the UAE’s premier superbike championship, DSBK Racing has carved a niche for itself in the region’s motorsport scene. The event provides an opportunity to immerse in edge-of-the-seat racing action, engaging family-friendly activities, and a seamless experience with free entry and parking, ensuring inclusivity for all visitors.
Beyond the high-speed action, the event boasts an array of entertainment options, including live DJ performances, a dedicated children’s play zone, a diverse range of food trucks, an interactive fan zone, and exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with racers, influencers and celebrities. DSBK Racing’s Founder and celebrated racer Nasir Syed, along with Co-Founder Abdul Samee shared their vision for the championship and said, “The DSBK Middle East Championship is more than just a race; it’s a movement to promote responsible riding and nurture motorsport culture in the region. We aim to establish DSBK Racing as a marquee event on the Middle East’s motorsport calendar.”
In a major announcement, DSBK Racing has also unveiled two groundbreaking initiatives. The DSBK Racing Academy, UAE’s first-ever Superbike training academy, is aimed at cultivating the next generation of racing talent through structured training programs for aspiring riders. Additionally, DSBK Racing is committed to fostering a passionate community of riders, families, and motorsport enthusiasts, offering an experience that extends beyond races to include education and entertainment.
Entertainment
Universal Music Group and Amazon Music Expand Global Partnership

Universal Music Group and Amazon Music today announced an expanded global relationship that will enable further innovation, exclusive content with UMG artists, and advancement of artist-centric principles including increased fraud protection. This reflects the two companies’ shared commitment to advancing and safeguarding human artistry while ensuring UMG’s artists achieve their commercial potential through the service’s continued product enhancements and exclusive content that elevate authentic engagement between artists and fans.
UMG and Amazon Music will work closely to explore new and enhanced product opportunities designed to benefit artists and enrich the experience of their fans. UMG will also collaborate with Amazon Music as it continues to expand in audio, including further innovation in audiobooks, audio and visual programming, and its investment in live-streamed content that has connected millions of fans with their favourite artists across all genres and corners of the world. UMG and Amazon will also work collaboratively to address, among other things, unlawful AI-generated content, as well as protect against fraud and misattribution.
Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group said, “We are very excited to advance our long-standing, excellent partnership with Amazon Music that marks a new era in streaming—Streaming 2.0. We appreciate Amazon Music’s deep commitment to the interests of our artists, and look forward to progressing our shared artist-centric objectives through product innovation and accelerating the growth of their service.”
Steve Boom, VP of Audio, Twitch and Games for Amazon said, “UMG has always been a collaborative partner to Amazon Music, and as we continue to invent and introduce more artist-to-fan connections through our product and exclusive content, we’re redefining what it means to be a streaming service. We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with UMG which will enable us to partner on meaningful new ways for artists to deepen their engagement with fans around the world while working together to protect the work of artists, songwriters and publishers.”
Cool Stuff
Dubai International Baja is Now Underway

After months of preparation, the final event in the international off-road rallying season is underway. Crews have completed the spectacular Qualifying Stage in the Hatta Suhaila Area and the Ceremonial Start at Dubai Festival Bay and are now focusing on the 359km of driving in Dubai’s daunting Al Qudra Desert that will make up Saturday’s Al-Futtaim Toyota Stage 2 of the event.
Lucas Moraes took victory on the first stage in Hatta by the narrowest of margins over his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate Seth Quintero. Just 0.2s separated the Brazilian and his Spanish codriver Armand Monelon from the US star Quintero and his German co-driver Dennis Zenz in their Toyota Hilux machines.
12-time event winner and reigning champion Nasser Al Attiyah got to within 1.4s of the leading pairing on his one-off outing with his team in his Taurus T3 Max while his team-mate Khalifa Al Attiyah was fourth, less than 10 seconds from the leading crew. Father/daughter combination Lionel and Lucie Baud were a fine fifth at the end of their first stage of rallying in Dubai with their Mini JCW Rally.
It was a tough start to the weekend for a couple of pre-event favourites Khalid Aljalfa and Eduard Pons who were 2m28s and 2m40s down after the stage after delays. However, they retain every chance of vying for honours in their battle for T3 class honours in the FIA World Cup Baja series. Poland’s Konrad Dabrowski took the early bragging rights among the two-wheel entry, the 23-year-old steering his Duust Rally Team KTM 450 to the fastest time in the 3.4km timed run at Hatta.
That was 25 seconds faster than Rafic Eid of Lebanon on his Gasgas and 28.2 seconds quicker than Pedro Bianchi Prata on his Honda CRF. Leading Quad rider on the Yamaha Raptors in the opening test was local man Abdulaziz Ahli, who had just under ten seconds in hand over Abdulaziz Al Atawi with the Saudi’s fellow countryman third Hani Al Noumesi third.
Following the stage in Hatta, the crews made their way back to the Service Park in Dubai Festival City for the tactically important Start Selection Ceremony. The competitors were then flagged away at Ceremonial Start in front of the fans in Dubai Festival City by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council in the company of His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, Omar Abdullah Al Futtaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Al Futtaim Group and His Excellency Dr Amer Al Zarooni Chief Executive Officer of the Al Jalila Foundation.
The crews then turned their attention to the challenges of Al-Futtaim Toyota Stage 2. In total there are 395km of timed ‘selective’ sections across the weekend and, with the untimed sections, the crews are facing a total of 867km of driving and riding until the champions of Dubai International Baja 2024 are crowned.
This year’s innovative use of the rugged landscape around Hatta means that gravel/dirt tracks make up 20% of the total route terrain on the selective sections. The rest is made up of open desert (35%) and 45% on the daunting dunes of Dubai which have made this rally so famous and popular with crews the world over.
Al-Futtaim Toyota Stage 2 begins at 8 am (Saturday 30th November) with the first crews expected to complete the selective sections from 11.30 am onwards, after which the teams will return to the Service Park in Dubai Festival Mall where they will be on view to spectators throughout the day. Now in its eighth edition under the Baja format, the event draws top competitors from around the globe to tackle the challenging dunes of Dubai.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and organised by the Emirates Motorsport Organization (EMSO) in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, the Baja is supported by Official Automotive Partner Al-Futtaim Toyota, Energy Partner ENOC, and the strategic collaboration of the Dubai Government and its entities, including the Dubai Police, RTA and Dubai Municipality.
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