Polaris expanded its signature RZR owner event beyond North America when it held the first Camp RZR UAE in Dubai on March 28–29, 2014. The event brought Polaris representatives, professional drivers and local off-road enthusiasts together for two days in the desert.
Dubai was a natural location for the international expansion. The large dunes surrounding the city had already helped make the United Arab Emirates an important market for high-performance sport UTVs, particularly the Polaris RZR XP 1000.
The First Camp RZR in the United Arab Emirates
Polaris modeled Camp RZR UAE after the company’s established Camp RZR celebration at the Imperial Sand Dunes near Glamis, California. The original U.S. gathering combined recreational riding with vehicle displays, entertainment and direct interaction between RZR owners and Polaris personnel.
The 2014 Dubai event adapted that formula for UAE riders. Activities included group riding, engineering displays, giveaways, food and music. Polaris also sent members of its engineering team to meet local owners and learn more about how RZRs were being used in the region’s demanding sand conditions.
“Camp RZR UAE is a celebration of off-road riding,” said Craig Scanlon, then general manager of the Polaris RZR division. “Polaris RZR is truly a global brand and we’re excited to bring our premier RZR event to the UAE given their vast interest and passion for the brand.”
RJ Anderson and Jagged X Join UAE Riders
Polaris brought prominent representatives of the American RZR community to Dubai, including professional driver and XP1K video star RJ Anderson. Members of the Jagged X Racing team also attended the event to meet and ride with UAE off-road enthusiasts.
Both names were closely associated with the rapid growth of RZR performance during this period. Jagged X had established the platform’s desert-racing credibility, while Anderson’s XP1K videos demonstrated what a heavily modified RZR could do in a highly produced freeride environment.
The event arrived during an important period in Polaris RZR history. The 2014 RZR XP 1000 had raised the standard for naturally aspirated sport UTV performance with a 999cc engine producing 107 horsepower, a 64-inch stance and trailing-arm rear suspension. Its combination of power and suspension capability made it particularly well suited to the open dunes surrounding Dubai.
Camp RZR Becomes an International Event
Camp RZR had initially developed around Polaris owners gathering at major American riding destinations. Bringing the event to the UAE showed that the RZR community was no longer limited to North America.
The Dubai event also demonstrated how well the Camp RZR format could translate to another country. Although the location and local riding culture were different from Glamis, both destinations shared an enthusiasm for powerful vehicles, extensive modification and high-performance dune riding.
The first event proved successful enough for Polaris to return the following year. The 2015 Camp RZR UAE expanded the schedule with a Show and Shine, public festivities, desert riding and demo opportunities covering RZR, RANGER, ACE and ATV models.
Why the 2014 Camp RZR UAE Matters
The inaugural Camp RZR UAE was more than a temporary promotional stop. It represented Polaris recognizing the United Arab Emirates as an important part of the international sport UTV market and connecting directly with riders using its vehicles in some of the world’s largest dunes.
By bringing Polaris engineers, Jagged X and RJ Anderson to Dubai, the company linked its American racing and enthusiast culture with a growing community of Middle Eastern RZR owners. The return of Camp RZR in 2015 confirmed that the first gathering had established a viable international extension of the event.
Explore more: Follow the development of the sport UTV from the original RZR 800 through today’s high-performance models in our complete history of the Polaris RZR.
Find additional vehicle introductions, historical features, reviews and industry coverage in the Polaris UTV archive.
