Background Desert recreational sport injuries in the UAE, a tourism-driven nation, are a growing public health concern. To address the lack of research on quad bike/ATV injuries, we conducted multiple studies to understand the unique injury burden, risk factors, and interventions.

Identifying stakeholders and gathering evidence for impactful, sustainable outcomes were essential steps.

Objective The aim of this research is to identify potential stakeholders and collaboration opportunities that can contribute to impactful and sustainable interventions.

Method In this qualitative study, we employed a post-positivist research paradigm. The conceptual framework, influenced by intervention mapping, focused on injury risk perception, desired outcomes, and assets/infrastructure. The research team conducted a total of 53 in-depth interviews with snowballing technique employed to identify participants. Transcripts were transcribed verbatim and translated before being imported into NVivo software for analysis. Framework analysis and reflexivity exercises were conducted. Thematic areas were indexed, summarized, and linked to stakeholder categories.

Results We identified five stakeholders that can influence quad bike riders (eg peers, social media influencers), seven stakeholders that could contribute to a safe riding environment(eg desert sport festival, tour operators), and six stakeholders involved in ensuring safe vehicles( eg vehicle refitters, registration services). The thematic summary that emerged from the analysis included existing injury prevention infrastructure and gaps. For example, in the absence of formal training, organised recreational parks and tour operators were providing training and supervised riding for beginners.

We mapped stakeholder’s risk perception and desired outcome and displayed the concordance between stakeholder groups graphically. For example, young riders and desert rescue staff asked for desert worthy quad bike designs and could work with agencies developing vehicle standards and permissible vehicle alterations. Parents and community members along with the police desired graduated riding spaces to avoid vehicle collisions. They could inform the urban planners for riding spaces and trails. Thus for every intervention goal, we identified stakeholders with common interests and resources.

Conclusion Our research identified existing resources, potential stakeholder groups, intervention goals and interest groups for each intervention. This could inform policy makers in developing multi-sectoral interventions with stakeholder partnership for effective and sustainable interventions.