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lrnoue
Joined: 06 Mar 2009
Posts: 25
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 Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:19 pm Post subject: Feasibility of weekend travel to Bahrain from Doha? |
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Hi all,
Have any of you ever travelled from Doha to Bahrain?
How long is the drive? Is it cheap to fly there? What would be the most practical and cost-effective way to travel frequently there?
I appreciate your insights into this issue  |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Most people I know travel by air. Check the various airline websites (Etihad, Gulf, Qatar, Arabian, etc.) |
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Dorry
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject: Weekends out of Doha - Bahrain & Dubai |
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Hi Irnoue,
You can drive Doha to Bahrain IF - and only if - you're male. Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi which lies between Doha & Bahrain. If you drive,
1. You'll need a Saudi visa which takes some time to come through.
2. You can only have females in the car if they are related to you - and you WILL need to show marriage/birth certificates as evidence if you're a foreigner.
So why bother? Flights are cheap and you're in the air about 25 minutes...
Alternatively, fly to Dubai on Air Arabia which takes you into Sharjah, Dubai's neighbouring Emirate.
Or alternatively - LIVE in the UAE or Bahrain so you don't feel the need to escape on weekends? |
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lrnoue
Joined: 06 Mar 2009
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: Weekends out of Doha - Bahrain & Dubai |
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| Dorry wrote: |
| Or alternatively - LIVE in the UAE or Bahrain so you don't feel the need to escape on weekends? |
lol thanks Dorry and helenl 
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all choose where to live and stay there happily ever after?
I thought that if you had a work permit from a GCC country you could travel anywhere in the region by car (except, of course, Makkah and Medina).
I don't mind driving through Saudi. Have any of you ever driven from Doha to Bahrain just for a weekend? How was it? |
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Dorry
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 7:50 am Post subject: Saudi visas |
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Yes, you need to apply for a visa before you go through Saudi, regardless of whether you have GCC residency or not - I just checked.
GCC Residency makes very little difference to getting visas elsewhere in the Gulf - it mainly depends on your passport. In Oman a tourist visa is slightly cheaper when you have GCC residency, and in some places there is a special queue in Immigration for GCC Residents (proximity makes you special!!)
You can use your GCC driving licence anywhere in the Gulf however. With the obvious exception of Saudi if you're a woman... |
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toughcookie
Joined: 26 Nov 2006
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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you will need a "transit visa" through Saudi to be able to drive to Bahrain from Doha. this cannot be obtained at the Saudi embassy. rather you have to apply at an office, leave your documents - including your passport - and come back a few days later to get the visa stamped (or glued) in your passport. women who accompany you must be related to you and will have to wear the full Gulf attire (abaya and sheyla).
Why don't you save yourself the headache and fly there?
tc |
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