![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FHRLG3BVH5ETVLRTRVID2YHIHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=64345bd47096a9ce24b48b53f6428304cef61ddbe49f121defaafba343edcbc2&width=400&height=225)
The family will cover about 40,000km, driving for a few hours each day.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J7C5I33ZDNEABM74O3K6EWUJNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8cc4732722cbcf5692f00cf752a7eb23411a977c171aa7c070a9fbe40c8779f8&width=400&height=225)
The Schakat family will leave Dubai in July to start a 14-month road trip. Photos: Nina Schakat and Alisa Poturaeva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MR54WSZTLJEIHHZLQAXEZXGTY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea9940d65f178aab55be754bfc025031c0d9cb61ec8bb86ac267b25eded11fc0&width=400&height=225)
The bus before the makeover.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HZUOMJMAWJEK5DWCKY6KAMDXRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc73ba17d42a9a64c7f39dd16f5f5fe7baf5a347516b4908bd8cc831e1ef30fb&width=400&height=225)
The family completed the whole refurbishment themselves.
Ben helped to clean the bus.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPYW4RN4SREGFOXV5ZCEA4RHWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=981c75ccf218de505709f5b4bb27a8719895f256168a4f07fce03c8e212f9329&width=400&height=225)
They plan to visit many countries, including Iran, Pakistan and Vietnam.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PLVWBER6R5G4NGPX4PUUJCGYXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cdb03a0cab9772d8c31e1b0a578094d02b10f44f1c0da6ff765b951f9b5a7c32&width=400&height=225)
Kai fitted the water tank and solar panels.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KGIBTSRLINBIVJNRDI7EW6PFWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e54d33ad9a9224b9bd5af19e97dae3db31ec48451600cfadc68524d1f1ab0d5c&width=400&height=225)
The kitchen area.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G2DYO67YX5AHTPJV7VLILB4EMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f200b9e3da3d448ad718b0720ffae0db89f551a792072eb7673f014319e118c2&width=400&height=225)
Ben's skateboard holder above his bunkbed.
The Schakat family will visit more than 10 countries.
The master suite.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7FYL3FOTYFA27LEJCAMQOHIEJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4064cc174ea2fcf38f7c61c992b12db8cf7bbc1732e920ca30d33ac236abbc6&width=400&height=225)
Ben and Kai in Oman in May during a test run in the bus.
A company in Dubai painted the exterior of the bus.
The bus cost Dh25,000.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FHRLG3BVH5ETVLRTRVID2YHIHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=64345bd47096a9ce24b48b53f6428304cef61ddbe49f121defaafba343edcbc2&width=400&height=225)
The family will cover about 40,000km, driving for a few hours each day.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J7C5I33ZDNEABM74O3K6EWUJNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8cc4732722cbcf5692f00cf752a7eb23411a977c171aa7c070a9fbe40c8779f8&width=400&height=225)
The Schakat family will leave Dubai in July to start a 14-month road trip. Photos: Nina Schakat and Alisa Poturaeva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MR54WSZTLJEIHHZLQAXEZXGTY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea9940d65f178aab55be754bfc025031c0d9cb61ec8bb86ac267b25eded11fc0&width=400&height=225)
The bus before the makeover.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HZUOMJMAWJEK5DWCKY6KAMDXRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc73ba17d42a9a64c7f39dd16f5f5fe7baf5a347516b4908bd8cc831e1ef30fb&width=400&height=225)
The family completed the whole refurbishment themselves.
Ben helped to clean the bus.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPYW4RN4SREGFOXV5ZCEA4RHWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=981c75ccf218de505709f5b4bb27a8719895f256168a4f07fce03c8e212f9329&width=400&height=225)
They plan to visit many countries, including Iran, Pakistan and Vietnam.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PLVWBER6R5G4NGPX4PUUJCGYXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cdb03a0cab9772d8c31e1b0a578094d02b10f44f1c0da6ff765b951f9b5a7c32&width=400&height=225)
Kai fitted the water tank and solar panels.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KGIBTSRLINBIVJNRDI7EW6PFWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e54d33ad9a9224b9bd5af19e97dae3db31ec48451600cfadc68524d1f1ab0d5c&width=400&height=225)
The kitchen area.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G2DYO67YX5AHTPJV7VLILB4EMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f200b9e3da3d448ad718b0720ffae0db89f551a792072eb7673f014319e118c2&width=400&height=225)
Ben's skateboard holder above his bunkbed.
The Schakat family will visit more than 10 countries.
The master suite.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7FYL3FOTYFA27LEJCAMQOHIEJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4064cc174ea2fcf38f7c61c992b12db8cf7bbc1732e920ca30d33ac236abbc6&width=400&height=225)
Ben and Kai in Oman in May during a test run in the bus.
A company in Dubai painted the exterior of the bus.
The bus cost Dh25,000.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FHRLG3BVH5ETVLRTRVID2YHIHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=64345bd47096a9ce24b48b53f6428304cef61ddbe49f121defaafba343edcbc2&width=400&height=225)
The family will cover about 40,000km, driving for a few hours each day.
Meet the Dubai family about to travel the world by bus
The globetrotting Schakats are gearing up for a remarkable 40,000km voyage in their home on wheels
![Kelly Clarke](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F0d1398b1-947f-4bc8-a663-69c6b02cb849.png?smart=true&auth=168c867e0c9f9e3320a65ec2cb755dfde78d4c07327944646c4aad65792033ee&width=70&height=70)
Kelly Clarke
19 June, 2022
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic