An Emirati campaigner will trek 550km from his home in Jumeirah in Dubai to Rub Al Khali or the Empty Quarter later this month.
Jalal bin Thaneya, a business student, said his initiative would raise funds for Dubai-based Senses Centre, an organisation which provides support for children with special needs.
The 23-year-old campaigner, who has embarked on similar missions in the past, said the journey would take him about two weeks.
"Sponsors are in place and we are gathering the last bit of equipment necessary for the entire journey," he told Emirates Business. "A support vehicle, which will meet me every 60km, has also been arranged. I have been working on my fitness level and have to be fully mentally prepared. Much of the journey will be on rocky terrain in the desert so there will be many challenges."
In 2007, Thaneya trudged 600km across the UAE for 23 days to raise awareness for the Dubai Autism Centre. Then, last year, he climbed 100 Dubai skyscrapers in 20 days to campaign for the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre.
The activist said his unusual campaigns have had its share of critics.
"I've been called a show-off, and that I was an attention seeker. Some commentators even said I have no right to claim I was representing the UAE," he said. "But I prefer to stay positive and deal with it. If you're doing some thing and you are not criticised, then you're not doing the right thing."
Thaneya, who raised about Dh100,000 for his first campaign for Dubai Autism Centre, also added that sponsors have become more receptive.
"It was a struggle when I first started out. I wasn't an athlete and I didn't have anything to show. Now, after the two projects, a lot of people are aware of the kind of things I do and are now willing to help. But it's still not easy to raise funds for the projects I am supporting."
Although he maintains a website, binthaneya.com, the activist said all money raised for the organisations go directly to them.
"I don't collect money myself and really don't want to deal with it. My mission is to raise awareness and spread the word about organisations that I believe in," he said.
"If you want to do something positive, you do it for free. I work for my country for free."
The next mission is to climb to the top of the world's tallest tower, the Burj Dubai, once it opens to public, he revealed.
"I've been planning that for a long time and hopefully will be able to follow through," he said.
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