A Strange Meeting In The Desert
OutdoorUAE|November 2017

Passion for photography and the desert and a fantastic story told in front of a fire!

Nico de Corato
A Strange Meeting In The Desert

I use to go running in the desert. Both for training and competitions This time, I decided to go to Al Qudra to test some gear I received. After parking my car at the Last Exit, I started running crossing through desert along the cycling path.

Almost 30 minutes after the sunset, I could see not too far from me a 4x4 on the top of a dune. A man was alone up there near to the car, lighting a fire. Intrigued, I kept on going in that direction, till I reached him and incredibly he was Italian too! Two Italians, and a strange meeting in the desert of Dubai. He offered me some water, we started talking and he told me he never drove a 4x4 before moving to the UAE so I grabbed hold of the opportunity and proposed that interview him... and here we are!

Nico de Corato (NdC): Luca, who are you and why you are here alone in the middle of the desert?

Luca Lombardi (LL): Born in Rome, I moved to Sanremo [Liguria, Italy] where I lived for 20 years and where all my friends still live. I’m a professional photographer and I’m here in the UAE because I love the desert.

NdC: How did you discover the desert?

LL: I saw the desert for the first time on Oct. 6th 2013, while landing in Dubai, a city I fell in love with immediately and I decided to move here after a year only. At the beginning it was not easy at all; very few customers, a little money in my pocket, and I could not even imagine buying a car. At first the only way I had to see the desert was from a window while going to Oman for my Visa Run or during a Desert Safari (a tourist attraction I didn’t like at all) purchased on Groupon. But after I saw the desert first time, a new passion was born inside me.

This story is from the November 2017 edition of OutdoorUAE.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2017 edition of OutdoorUAE.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM OUTDOORUAEView All
Reach The Unreachable With The New 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
OutdoorUAE

Reach The Unreachable With The New 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Continuing the legacy of the powerful four-wheel drive performance and unrivalled off-road capabilities, the new 2018 Land Cruiser Prado has been officially launched by Al-Futtaim Motors. The new Prado comes with a more robust exterior, sophisticated and intuitive interior design in addition to improved driving abilities and user-friendliness, both on-and off-road, cementing its reputation as one of the world’s toughest and most reliable SUVs.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2017
A Strange Meeting In The Desert
OutdoorUAE

A Strange Meeting In The Desert

Passion for photography and the desert and a fantastic story told in front of a fire!

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2017
The World Is My Play Ground
OutdoorUAE

The World Is My Play Ground

We meet Josefina Fontana traveling the world to find amazing places and outdoor fun.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2017
7 Emirates Run
OutdoorUAE

7 Emirates Run

My name is Toni Metcalfe I am a mum of three children and I also have a passion for running. Not just any running but Ultra running. An Ultra run is defined by any distance over a marathon (42.2kms) but is usually much longer and on mountainous terrain. My last race was 100 miles long and across the south of England countryside.​​​​​​​

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2017
Cyclists Are Training Hard For The Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge
OutdoorUAE

Cyclists Are Training Hard For The Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge

The countdown to the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge continued with a spin. With just a few weeks to go until the main event, over 550 cyclists from across the UAE met at the Al Qudra Cycle Track at the third Spinneys Build-Up ride ahead of the main 92km event on 15th December.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2017
Subaru Driving Experience With Eyesight Demonstration
OutdoorUAE

Subaru Driving Experience With Eyesight Demonstration

Al Khoory Automobiles held the ‘Subaru Driving Experience with EyeSight Demonstration’ event at the Dubai Autodrome, Hill Circuit on 23rd March 2018.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2018
A Jeep Adventure Day In The City
OutdoorUAE

A Jeep Adventure Day In The City

What’s a better way to spend the weekend than outdoors?

time-read
1 min  |
April 2018
How I Grew Up Riding Dirt Bikes
OutdoorUAE

How I Grew Up Riding Dirt Bikes

An interview with Dana Miskulnig and what she was telling people about in during the inspiring women’s talk

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2018
Team Building Outdoors In The UAE
OutdoorUAE

Team Building Outdoors In The UAE

On weekends, Alex, Olya and I love exploring the UAE. Usually we either sign up for an organized running event or drive to the mountains or sand dunes and run on our own. Some events are a bit technical, while others are intended for more casual runners.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2018
Infant Swimming: PROS,CONS And Precautions
OutdoorUAE

Infant Swimming: PROS,CONS And Precautions

Swimming with your kids can be a fun way to spend hours with them

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2018