Over the course of the last 10 years Dubai - the sporting centre of the Middle East - has become one of the fastest growing cities in the world, leading the way in tourism growth and world renowned sports events. It is also a growing employment centre for Australian expatriates and white collar workers. Arabs are well known for their desire to own fast cars and live an affluent lifestyle, with the likes of rally driver Mohammed bin Sulayem earning a global reputation for his fleet of exotic sports cars.
But he now has a rival. A man called Yaha Bilhili, no mean rally driver in his own right and a specialist in running off-road exotica, such as this six-wheel drive Range Rover. Yaha Bilhili has a military background and a growing reputation in off-road endurance rallies, such as the Marlboro UAE Desert Challenge and various cross-country events in the United Arab Emirates. He's matched and beaten many of the world's finest drivers across the sands of the UAE on the annual final round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, but he is also a keen follower of the real Arab sporting traditions, such as horse racing, hunting and falconry.
It was the desire for an off-road vehicle, which could be used in upper class and regal falconry circles, which gave birth to this unique creation. Wider than a standard Range Rover and longer, courtesy of its six-wheel drive transmission system and extended chassis, Bilhili's unique machine is well known in the Arabian deserts and was built at the factory in Solihull back in 1984, by special order from the ruling Saudi Arabian Al Fahad royal family.
It is now generally regarded as the ultimate 'picnic machine' and can often be seen perched at impossible angles across the vast dunes of the expansive Empty Quarter, transporting wealthy Arabs to falconry meetings or speeding along the vast highways which dissect the seven emirates of the UAE.
Bilhili acquired the car from its regal owners nine years ago and now uses it for hunting, off-roading and displaying at several automotive exhibitions in the Middle East. "It is a fantastic car to drive in all types of situation," he confesses. "On the highway in two-wheel drive you can press along at 180 km/h, no problem. Then you have the option of four and six-wheel drive. If I use the low-ratio option it will switch to four-wheel drive and then six-wheel drive in the high-ratio option."
The car is powered by a near-standard 4.5-litre V8 engine and is fitted with Bilhili's Rancho uprated shock absorbers, American tyres and a myriad of internal extras. Climb aboard and you are immediately shrouded in luxury and an assured quality with a difference. Beige leather interior, plush seats woven with the national emblem of Saudi Arabia and a plethora of luxuries are standard fittings, but there are a number of unique modifications to cater for the desert sporting set.
The rear bench seat has been customised in such a way that it can be raised aloft as the roof slides back electronically. With the use of hydraulic pulleys, the seat lifts towards the roof of the vehicle, enabling a wealthy falcon owner to see the progress of his priceless birds from a vantage point through the sunroof of the car. The sedan chair-like seating position also enables the owner to launch his birds at their prey from the comfort of his seat.
The boot area is fitted with a refrigeration system for the storage of cold drinks on those balmy desert afternoons, where temperatures can easily exceed 35 degrees C. Liquids can then be pumped via motors through a series of tubes to outlets in the armrests of the rear seats - the absolute height of luxury.
Bilhili has fitted a winch to tow any errant motorsport spectators or inexperienced 'dune bashers' out of the treacherous 'live sands' which abound in the UAE. But the interior luxury does not stop at catering for the human occupants. The valuable birds are housed in a separate compartment in the rear of the vehicle, where a perch and removable chromium-plated tray are fitted. This enables the birds to be fed, cleaned and pampered within the confines of the vehicle.
"I love cars, especially four-wheel drive cars," confesses Bilhili. "The terrain is ideal for this Range Rover. We have some of the most challenging dunes in the world; the scenery is beautiful. You can go away for the weekend and feel safe in the knowledge that you won't be getting stuck. I like to challenge myself and see how far I can push this car.
"I feel that it's impossible to get stuck in the sand if you know what you are doing. You learn to read the deserts. You know where there are patches of active sand and how to cope with changes in terrain. For comfort and safety I think I have the ultimate vehicle."
Bilhili is currently keeping busy on other aspects of off-roading, with the creation of a state-of-the-art Hummer vehicle and the development of a competition Chevrolet Tahoe for use in the 2001 UAE Marlboro Desert Challenge in November.
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