GPS Challenge 3.0, 29–31 January 2027, Liwa, Empty Quarter, UAE. By registering or taking part, each participant agrees to follow these terms, event briefings and reasonable instructions from the organizers and marshals. Each team is responsible for ensuring that all its members understand them.
1. Event format
The Event is a GPS navigation and teamwork challenge, not a race. Teams aim to visit all valid checkpoints and record the shortest total route, subject to the scoring rules below. Participants must drive responsibly and comply with applicable laws, permits, site restrictions and marshal directions. Speed does not determine the winner.
2. Event schedule and check-in
Friday 29 January: teams leave Dubai by 9:00 am. The campsite is ready from 3:00 pm and team check-in opens then. Check-in must be completed by 8:00 pm. Late arrival may result in disqualification from the Event.
Saturday 30 January: challenge window 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. All teams must return to the campsite by 6:00 pm.
Sunday 31 January: challenge window 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. All teams must return to the campsite by 4:00 pm.
The organizers may adjust timings or procedures for safety, weather, access or operational reasons. Any changes will be communicated to teams as soon as practicable.
3. Team and vehicle requirements
Each team must consist of three vehicles. One marshal may be assigned to a team if the organizers approve. At least one vehicle in each team must carry a functioning winch. Every vehicle must be suitable for off-road driving, maintained in safe operating condition and legally permitted to be driven. The organizers or marshals may inspect a vehicle or require a team to stop using a vehicle they consider unsafe.
The participant limit is one passenger per vehicle unless the organizers approve an additional passenger and any applicable additional charge is paid. Each participant must be registered. Teams must remain together throughout the challenge; a team may not leave a teammate behind.
4. Required equipment and GPS recording
Each team must carry suitable recovery equipment and a first aid kit. Teams are responsible for bringing any additional supplies, communications equipment, medication, food or water they need for their own safety and comfort. Event entry includes food and water for the two event nights, but participants should plan for their individual needs and the conditions in the desert.
Teams must record their route using Gaia GPS or a Garmin device. The recording must cover the challenge route and be retained in its original form for review. Teams must be ready to provide the track file and any requested supporting information to the scoring team. The organizers may reject incomplete, altered or unverifiable recordings.
5. Checkpoints, challenges and scoring
The team with the shortest valid recorded distance after completing all valid checkpoints wins, subject to penalties and the organizer’s verification of the GPS records. A checkpoint is counted only when the team’s recorded track passes within 50 metres of its designated location. A pass more than 50 metres away does not count.
Teams must follow checkpoint instructions and may not interfere with markers, other teams, route information or GPS records. Teams should navigate through the checkpoints using the safest and shortest route. Each missed checkpoint adds a 500-metre penalty to the team’s recorded track. The organizers will explain how penalties are applied at the event briefing.
If a team cannot reach every checkpoint within the daily challenge window, it must stop checkpoint attempts and return to the campsite before the applicable cut-off. Missing checkpoints may affect the team’s result. Failure to return by the cut-off, leaving a teammate behind, or breaching a safety instruction may result in a penalty, disqualification or removal from the Event.
6. Safety, recovery and conduct
Participants take part in a remote desert environment and must use sound judgment, drive within their abilities and follow all safety briefings. Seat belts must be worn. Reckless driving, racing, deliberate route obstruction, dangerous recovery practices, harassment, damage to property, or conduct that endangers a person or vehicle is prohibited. Participants must not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Only marshals may decide and coordinate event recovery steps when a vehicle breaks down, an accident occurs or a team needs assistance. Teams must stop in a safe place, contact the event team using the communicated procedure and follow marshal instructions. Participants must not undertake a recovery that could endanger people or vehicles. Emergency services should be contacted when required.
Every team must remain self-sufficient and keep all members accounted for. A participant who feels unwell or believes conditions are unsafe should notify the team leader and marshals promptly. The organizers may pause, reroute, restrict or end activity where they consider this necessary for safety or access.
7. Environmental care and site rules
Participants must respect the desert, wildlife, private property and any protected or restricted areas. Stay on permitted routes, do not litter, and take all rubbish back to the designated collection points or camp. Do not damage vegetation, structures or checkpoint markers. Follow any waste-sorting and campsite instructions provided by the organizers.
8. Organizer authority and event decisions
The organizers and marshals may issue instructions, verify GPS data, apply the published scoring rules, impose penalties, disqualify a team, remove a participant or vehicle, or stop participation where a rule is breached or safety, fairness, access or event operations require it. Decisions will be made in good faith based on the information available. The organizers may correct an evident scoring or recording error. Operational decisions are final for the Event, subject to any rights participants may have under applicable law.
9. Registration, fees and event changes
Registration is subject to availability, payment and confirmation by the organizers. Event inclusions are those stated in the final registration information and event briefing, including food and water for both event nights, event T-shirts and sponsor merchandise where available. Any additional passenger charge or other extra must be confirmed before payment. Refunds, cancellations or transfers are governed by the payment and registration terms communicated to participants.
The organizers may change the schedule, route, checkpoints, activities or campsite, or postpone, suspend or cancel the Event, where reasonably required by safety, weather, access, permits, emergency, operational conditions or circumstances outside the organizers’ control. The organizers will communicate material changes as soon as practicable and will provide any refund or credit in accordance with the final registration terms and applicable law.
10. Personal responsibility and risk acknowledgement
Off-road driving and desert travel involve inherent risks, including vehicle damage, collision, getting stuck, heat, dehydration, injury, illness, delay and limited access to assistance. Participants confirm that they understand the nature of the activity, are fit to participate, and will make their own decisions about whether to continue. Each participant is responsible for their own conduct and for the safe operation of their vehicle.
Participants must hold valid driving licences for the vehicles they operate and maintain any legally required vehicle insurance. Participants should confirm that their insurance covers the planned off-road activity and location. Event entry does not provide vehicle, medical, personal accident or travel insurance unless expressly stated in writing by the organizers. The participant disclaimer below forms part of these terms.
11. Photography and event media
The Event may be photographed or recorded for event reporting and promotion. Participants who do not want identifiable promotional images of themselves used should notify the organizers in writing before check-in and also inform the photographer or marshal at the event. The organizers will take reasonable steps to respect that request, subject to the practical limits of group and wide-angle event footage. Separate consent should be obtained where required by applicable law.
12. Applicable law and language
These terms are intended to operate under applicable laws of the United Arab Emirates. Any dispute will be handled by the competent courts or authorities determined under applicable law.
Participant disclaimer and risk acknowledgement
Inherent risks. I understand that participation in a remote off-road driving and desert navigation event involves risks that cannot be eliminated, including collision, rollover, vehicle damage or failure, getting stuck, recovery activity, difficult terrain, extreme weather, heat, dehydration, illness, injury, death, delays and limited access to medical or other assistance. Risks may arise from my own actions, another participant, vehicle or equipment failure, terrain, weather or other conditions. I choose to participate voluntarily and will stop and seek assistance if I believe it is unsafe to continue.
Release of claims. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, I release and agree not to hold responsible Offroad-Zone (ORZ), the GPS Challenge 3.0 organizers, event sponsors, their associates and affiliates, the landowner or site operator, and each of their respective employees, agents, contractors, marshals and volunteers (together, the Released Parties) for loss, damage, injury, illness or death, or related costs, arising out of or connected with my preparation for, travel to, presence at or participation in the Event. This includes damage to my vehicle or other property and accidents occurring during the challenge, campsite activities or event-related recovery. This release applies only to the extent the law permits. Nothing in it excludes or limits liability, duties or rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
Participant responsibilities and indemnity. I remain responsible for my decisions, conduct, vehicle, passengers and personal property. I will comply with the event rules, the law, safety briefings and marshal instructions. I am responsible for damage, injury, loss or expense caused by my own unlawful or negligent conduct, breach of these terms or unsafe operation of my vehicle. To the extent permitted by applicable law, I agree to reimburse and protect the Released Parties against third-party claims and reasonable costs to the extent directly caused by my unlawful or negligent conduct or my breach of these terms. This does not apply to any liability that cannot lawfully be transferred to me.
Insurance and medical costs. I confirm that I hold a valid driving licence for any vehicle I operate and that my vehicle has any insurance required by law. I will check with my insurer that my cover applies to off-road driving at the event location. Unless the organizers expressly confirm otherwise in writing, entry does not include vehicle, personal accident, medical, travel or property insurance. I am responsible for my own medical and personal expenses, subject to applicable law.
