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 pay-
ing 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 Passport(s)
2. Two passport 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 passport to be paid in advance to the agent

Contact details of the agent

Al Ihsan Services
Contact 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 non-
visa 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 resi-
dents of any GCC Country. Also note that an exit fee of 20 Dirhams per pass-
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 govern-
ment 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, fol-
lowed 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 insur-
ance 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 insur-
ance 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 Dir-
hams & stick it on the car dashboard below the rear view mirror. Pl. follow
the instructions on the package provided to register 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 cross-
ing 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 be-
ing 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 usu-
ally has a long que of trucks.

The journey log sheet

Doha to Dubai

Time Km Run

7.45 am Depart from Doha Westbay (City Centre) 0000

km

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 passport

- Next Qatar immigration (All passports, pl.ensure exit permit sought)

- Next counter re-check of passports 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 115 km

- First counter produce Qatar immigration paper and passport

- Second counter Saudi immigration, followed by customs
- Car insurance/ Produce Qatar immigration papers
- 4th counter re-check of passport, 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) 121 km

10.15 am Petrol station on the right 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
- Passports- park the car and all go inside the passport office on your left for
chopping your passports 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 - Passport recheck.

2 lane roads, in good condition. Here you can let your car stretch its legs a lit-
tle. 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 bypass 600 Km (est)

4pm - Reached Dubai 700 Km (est)

Return journey by road to Doha from Dubai

6.00 am - Depart from Dubai 0007 km

10.00 am - At U.A.E. border fill entry card (although
you will be exiting) & pay Dhs. 20 exit
fee per passport 457 km
10.30 am - Saudi border entry (U.A.E) 463 km
11.40 am - Saudi border exit (Qatar) 594 km
11.45 am - Qatar border entry 603 km
1.00 pm - City Centre Doha 707 km