Access restrictions in the UAE

Alan Stark reports that the upper reaches of Wadi Bih, in the United Arab Emirates, which contain most of the best accessible climbing and campsites, have been closed by the authorities due to security issues. The Wadi Bih system has been used for many years as a route for illegal economic migrants from Afghanistan and surrounding states to the honeypots of the UAE. In the current world climate the authorities have decided to shut the overland route through the mountains which effectively closes off access to this climbing area for the foreseeable future.
Update 12/3/04 - Restrictions now lifted. Check information in the thread linked to below.

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Comments

CDL

25 Jan, 2004

That's interesting Al. Is it closed at the police post or further up ? In other words can you get to ANY crags in Wadi Bhi ? take care, Chris

Alan Stark

25 Jan, 2004

Hi Chris. As far as I know ( e-mail from John Gregory ) I believe it is closed beyond the UAE border post at the end of the tarmac. The Wadi Khab Shamsi end from Dibba appears to be open, so access to Camp 21, Spice World, 90 metre, and all the crags down to Celestial Wall may be accessible from Dibba, but it's a helluva long way to go just to find out it's blocked from the east also. Dont know of anyone who's tried that way recently. Wadi Qada'a is open, and I believe Jebel Hila is still accessible (Ask Geoff Horby about the quality of routes on that one - 400m plus! ) Wonderwall, near Al Ain has seen a bit of activity, with new sectors being developed for sport climbing. The main trad areas have thankfully been respected, a trend which I hope will continue. Cheers Alan

Alan Stark

26 Jan, 2004

Bit of a long way to go for a spot of bouldering !! Looks as though Spice World and 90 metre boulders are still off limits, and dont know about Boulder World in Wadi Khab a'Shamis. Look at it this way, people may now feel the urge to visit Wadi Body if Wonderwall scares them too much.

Alan Stark

25 Feb, 2004

The latest update is that the UAE border post is definitely closed, and there is no direct access from Ras Al Khaimah to the Upper reaches of Wad Bih. However Providing that winter storms have not blocked Wadi Khab Shamsi, all of the crags in Upper Wadi Bih are still accessible from Dibba, via Wadi Khab Shamsi and over the pass. (4wd is probably required if the track has not recently been graded). The restrictions in the north have prompted renewed activity elsewhere. A number of new sports routes have been developed in the Wonderwall area, near Al Ain, in the south of the region, with 1&2 pitch routes being bolted and climbed. (up to Fr 6b so far, with loads of scope for more routes)

Alan Stark

26 Feb, 2004

Not as far as I know. It seems to be random. I have long ago given up trying to understand the workings of the official mind in that part of the world, -- it's just better not to argue and find an alternative. I have had reports that on some days it has been open, but on other days it is closed at the Ras Al Khaimah end. The extensive crags in Wadi Qada'a, together with Jebel Hila are all still accessible from RAK, as are the climbins in Wadi Ghalilah further north. The UAE border post lies 10km beyond the entrance to Wadi Qada'a, with the major climbing areas of Wadi Bih some 3.5 - 7 km further on. Most days you can't get from the UAE border post into central and upper Wadi Bih without a 120 km detour each way via Manama and Masafi and Dibba (and probably needing a 4WD to get over the pass!).

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