Driving Doha To Dubai 5q6a3e

Driving Doha to Dubai -- A travelogue by Feroz & Seema Siddiqui

Preparations prior to travel It is a misconception that driving to Dubai is very difficult from Doha. It is certainly challenging but fun. We did it with just over a week of planning. It took us about 7 hours to drive door-to-door crossing about 700 KM. This travelogue is an attempt to see more of us who love to drive, go behind the wheels & start their engines to cross two borders before reaching Dubai.

Why Drive? 1. Cost effective: Air tickets are rather expensive in this part of the world for a family of four, especially during peak season. 2. Excess Baggage: Unlike in air travel, we dont have to worry about paying excess baggage. There are no restrictions on the weight of shopping you bring through the borders so long it all fits in your car. 3. Convenience: We are free to leave whenever we want & extend our stay without making any calls to alter any bookings. Things To Do / Tips 1. Saudi Visa: Contrary to popular belief it is not difficult to get a visa. A round trip visa can be obtained from the local Saudi Embassy through an agent in Doha itself (see address below). Requirements for a Saudi transit visa to UAE listed below: 1. Original port(s) 2. Two port photographs each with a WHITE background 3. Copies of vehicle ownership papers (Ishtaymarah) -- If vehicle not in the name of the driver then NOC to be sought from either bank (if on lease) or company (if company owned) 4. Company/sponsor letter (NOC) addressed to the Saudi embassy in Arabic (Agent will provide template) 5. Visa process takes typically one week. 6. Charges are QAR 80 per port to be paid in advance to the agent details of the agent Al Ihsan Services person: Haris Tel 4434050/ 4434050 Souk Asiri, Opp Phillipines market and Dana centre (this is off Hamad street, pl. call them for exact directions)

2. UAE Visa: For visa waiver countries such as Singapore, Australia & US there is no paper work required. In case you are carrying persons from nonvisa waiver countries (like India, Pakistan, sri lanka etc) they can get visa at the border by filling a form & paying 100 Dhirams -- So long as they are residents of any GCC Country. Also note that an exit fee of 20 Dirhams per port is charged by UAE at the immigration, while leaving the country. 3. Currency: It is best to have Saudi & UAE currency handy (loose change), although Qatari Riyals are welcome by most petrol pumps & also at government counters (insurance, immigration etc) 4. Car: Best to service your car before embarking on the journey to avoid any misadventure during the journey. Carry that spare key you have in your closet for your car with just in case you loose/misplace your keys you won’t be stuck in another country for it. Note that fuel is cheapest in Saudi, followed by Qatar & most expensive in UAE. 8. Insurance: You are required to buy insurance at the border while entering a foreign country (Saudi & UAE) for the duration of stay in each country. The rate is 10 riyals/dhirams per day per car. However a min seven day insurance applies. So although we were transiting saudi for only a couple of hours we had to pay for seven days insurance (70 riyals). However since we were to return in 10 days time we would end up buying another 7 days insurance for transiting only a couple of hours on our return again. So we opted to buy a 10 days insurance straight (100 riyals). That way we didn't have to buy insurance upon our return to Saudi border on our way back from Dubai. 6. Salik in Dubai: Just like ERP in Singapore there is Salik in Dubai. You need to get a salik tag from any petrol station in Dubai by paying 100 Dirhams & stick it on the car dashboard below the rear view mirror. Pl. follow the instructions on the package provided to your salik tag to your number plate. 9. Abaaya (Black gown): If women are traveling together in your car they must carry an abaaya for use during the crossing on saudi land. A black full length dress with head covered with a scarf (tudung) will also make do. PL NOTE WOMEN ARE NOT PERMITTED TO DRIVE IN SAUDI.

7. Dealing with border officers (immigration/customs): Simple rule, you be nice to them and they will be nice to you. Dont play music while you are being attended to at any drive-in counters and dont me yaking away on your mobile either. Pull down all windows at the border crossing. Please greet & do SMILE! and be patient. 10. Customs: Always step out of the car during customs checking of the car. During your journey through Saudi make sure there is no alcoholic drinks (not even a can of beer) in your car or magazines with scantily dressed women or even any idols/statutes. Dont bring in any potted plants (as part of your shopping from Dubai) as they will send you to Quarantine which usually has a long que of trucks. The journey log sheet Doha to Dubai Time

Km Run

7.45 am km

Depart from Doha Westbay (City Centre)

0000

8.45 am

Al Ramzani petrol station (R)

80 km

Qatari border 9.00 am

Abu Samra check point

106 km

- First counter vehicle papers check. Produce ishtemarah + driver’s port - Next Qatar immigration (All ports, pl.ensure exit permit sought) - Next counter re-check of ports by Qatar immigration After Qatar border you drive through a causeway for about 8 KM to reach the Saudi border. Saudi border 9.20 am

Salwa check-point

- First counter produce Qatar immigration paper and port - Second counter Saudi immigration, followed by customs - Car insurance/ Produce Qatar immigration papers

115 km

- 4th counter re-check of port, paper kept by the officer After entering Saudi, drive about 5 KM & then turn left. 9.30 am

Turn left (at the road sign to Abu Dhabi)

10.15 am

Petrol station on the right

121 km 210 km

Drive on this road (alatool) for about 135 Km before hotting the second Saudi border with UAE 10.30 am

Saudi border

247 km

Similar border procedures as earlier. U.A.E. border 10.45 am UAE Check point - Vehicle re-check - ports- park the car and all go inside the port office on your left for chopping your ports after getting the bio-metric scan of your eyes. All pax need to get this done irrespective of nationality. Hence we ended up spending almost an hour in UAE immigration. - Customs - in done in the shed like structure. After customs you are out of the shed. - Insurance on left. There is a choice of 4 insurance companies, and insurance is compulsory. Choose anyone; 1. Emirates insurance co 2. Abu Dhabi insurance co 3. Al Ain insurance co 4. Ahlia insurance 11.40 am

- port recheck.

2 lane roads, in good condition. Here you can let your car stretch its legs a little. We must have touched 160KMPH. Once you are near Abudhabi slow down to 120KMPH as there are lot of cameras between AD & Dubai. Follow signs toreach either AD or Dubai. 2.45 pm

- Crossed Abu Dhabi by

600 Km (est)

4pm

- Reached Dubai

700 Km (est)

Return journey by road to Doha from Dubai 6.00 am 10.00 am

10.30 am 11.40 am 11.45 am 1.00 pm

- Depart from Dubai - At U.A.E. border fill entry card (although you will be exiting) & pay Dhs. 20 exit fee per port - Saudi border entry (U.A.E) - Saudi border exit (Qatar) - Qatar border entry - City Centre Doha

0007 km

457 km 463 km 594 km 603 km 707 km