The two-day 2008 Al Ain Dune Championship attracted record crowds.

Bikes and buggies entered into five categories of competition on the first day of the competition. The second day witnessed competition in three car categories.

The championships were held under the patronage of Shaikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan and organised by the Abu Dhabi Motors Club (ADMC) together with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Al Ain Municipality.

Each driver was timed in his attempts to get to the top of a dune and down the other side.

The winners were: Buggy class - Saif Al Qubaisi (UAE) 6.848 secs.
Four stroke: Mansour Saleh (UAE) 6.793 secs.
Second class: Mansour Saleh (UAE) 6.074 secs.
First class: Juma Sultan Balkhbays (UAE) 5.870 secs.
Open Class: Mohammed Amir Almashgomi (UAE) 5.410 secs.
The winners of the three car categories were:
8 cylinder: Hamdan Al Mazroui, (UAE - Al Yasi Team) 6.993 secs.
6 cylinder (modified): Mohamed Daif Al Ameri (UAE – Future Team) 7.596 secs.
Standard 6 cylinder: Jaber Al Shamsi (UAE) 11.214 secs.

The winners of the car categories won a Toyota Fortuner car, a bike and prize money respectively.

“For the fourth year in a row, visitor numbers exceeded expectations. I would like to pay pecial thanks to Sheikh Mansoor for his support of this event as well as to the police for ensuring that it went off without any problems. Thanks must also go to the Abu Dhabi Motors Club, ADNOC Distribution, Al Ain’s Municipality, the Al Ain Distribution Company and the Al Jaber Group,” said l Al Sheikh speaking on behalf of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. – TradeArabia News Service