Three women walked 470 miles across Oman's Empty Quarter, a vast uninhabited desert, in an incredible feat of human achievement. This walk was supported by two Land Rover Discoverys, which followed the expedition team with supplies so the walkers could travel light in the harsh Arabian sun.
Two of the women, Baida Al Zadjali and Atheer Al Sabri, were on their first large-scale adventure like this. They were guided by Janey McGill, a noted explorer. The women walked the desert, while the two Discoverys carried supplies and safety equipment.
The Empty Quarter comprises a huge amount of the Arabian Peninsula, across Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates. It's the Arabia that you think of in your mind's eye: dunes, oases, and quiet emptiness.
The idea of the expedition was to show how togetherness can bring out the best in people, regardless of gender, culture, or identity. The Omani women had never been on a physical pursuit to this scale, which caused some interpersonal issues during the walk. However, the women all persevered, working through their issues and becoming stronger through the challenges. They suffered through injury, heat, and the social isolation of the Empty Quarter.
The Discoverys would go ahead of the walking party, meeting up at various checkpoints during the day to support the walking women. The trip was 28 days, and the vehicles and support crews needed to be self-sufficient for that time, as well.
The trip from Al Hashman in Dhofar to Ibri Fort in Ad Dhahirah ended after the four weeks, with Ibri showing up over a dune ridgeline -- the first civilization outside of the Discoverys for days. They had walked almost the length of Oman, in true isolation.
The walk took place over the winter of 2018/19, and a film was produced by Land Rover Middle East-North Africa for International Women's Day. Per McGill's website, a feature-length documentary is also to come. Land Rover's 8-minute video is available to view on YouTube.
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