Dubai-based adventurer and former rugby player Daniel Crouchman has been selected for the regional final of the Defender Trophy in AlUla, Saudi Arabia.
Crouchman is one of 18 competitors chosen for the regional event after progressing from a shortlist of 30 applicants in the UAE.
He will compete as a UAE entrant against participants from across the Gulf, North Africa and Eurasia.
The Defender Trophy is a team competition based around off-road driving, navigation, engineering tasks and physical tests. It is not a race, although some parts of the event may be timed.
National and regional winners will advance to the global final in southern Africa in October 2026. The winning team will then take part in a conservation mission linked to Defender’s partnership with wildlife charity Tusk.
“I need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
Crouchman was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Nigeria, China and the UAE.
Daniel Crouchman – Sand Rover Specialty Coffee Company in Dubai
He spent much of his career working on large construction and engineering projects before leaving the sector to set up Sand Rover Specialty Coffee Company in Dubai.
His sporting background includes rugby with Dubai Hurricanes. He was part of the club’s squad when the Hurricanes won the Gulf Men’s League at the 2018 Dubai Rugby Sevens, ending a wait of more than a decade for the title.
“Living and working across the Middle East and developing countries taught me how to communicate under pressure, adapt to unknown conditions, and build strong relationships with people from all walks of life,” Crouchman said.
“When you pair that high-stakes team mindset with a lifelong passion for tinkering on Land Rovers, the Defender Trophy feels like the ultimate culmination of everything I’ve built toward.”
His preparation has included physical and cognitive training at the Brain & Performance Centre in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, along with outdoor conditioning in Ireland.
The AlUla event is expected to include sand driving, rocky climbs, vehicle recovery tasks, navigation and obstacle courses in Defender 110 vehicles.
“Advancing to represent the UAE against top expeditionists from across the GCC, North Africa and Eurasia is an honour,” Crouchman said.
“It’s time to put the training to the test, get behind the wheel, and make some dust in AlUla. I need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
