Recreation can come with risks

Those who offer and undertake adventure activities should ensure that they’re insured

Quad biking in the desert can be a risky actvity. (Pawan Singh / The National)

The UAE offers many outdoor activities and this time of year, with its mild weather, presents the perfect opportunity to enjoy them. But, as one Al Ain couple discovered, what begins as harmless fun can sometimes land you in big trouble. As The National reported yesterday, Jessie Kerkhove ended up in hospital and her fiance, Hamed Al Obaidi, landed in jail after a quad-biking adventure in the desert went very wrong.

They had an accident in which Ms Kerkhove received injuries including leg fractures that required surgery. And, although the company that rented them the quad-bike insists that drivers don’t need to be licensed and the vehicles don’t require registration if they are only used off-road, the police and the courts disagreed. Mr Al Obaidi was arrested and spent more than a week in custody. A court convicted him of causing his partner’s injuries, driving without a licence and driving an unregistered vehicle. The couple now have to pay heavy fines and are faced with a demand from the rental company to pay to replace the bike, which was impounded by police.

Their case illustrates an apparent discrepancy in the law, which does not make separate provision for quad-bikes or some other vehicles. It also points to the risks inherent in many recreational activities and the responsibilities faced by those who undertake these activities and facilitate them.

It is important for those who organise risky activities such as dune-bashing, jet-skiing or sky-diving to understand their legal responsibilities and ensure that their customers do too. But the ultimate responsibility lies with the individuals who participate in these pastimes. Residents and visitors alike should ensure that they are properly informed, equipped and insured for any activity they intend to engage in.

Additionally, we should all appreciate that any activities in the desert carry some element of danger. It can be a very beautiful place, but it is also a hostile environment for those who fail to respect it.