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helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

The UAE has tightened the border crossings at Buraimi - I would be surprised if you can cross there 'unofficially' at all.

There are UAE checkpoints at all major border crossings (Al Ain, Hatta, Fujairah, etc.). If you are a UAE resident - you have to pay for a visit visa - usually around AED50??(maybe less) if you are from outside the GCC you will have to pay around AED80.

I have had friends drive rental cars from UAE to Oman (believe it was with Hertz) but they had UAE drivers' licenses and GCC residency. The rental company gave them a car with insurance valid for Oman.

It's not a bad drive from Dubai via Hatta to Muscat - it's a 4 lane dual carriage way (2 lanes for either direction) well lit and basically, you go straight from Dubia to Hatta - go to the first roundabout and turn right and keep going straight until Muscat. Takes 4 - 4.5 hours depending on lineups at the border.

Omani border personnel will usually check your vehicle for any alcohol. Save the little piece of paper with the red stamp on it that they give you when you buy your visa - they will ask for it on the way out.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Great summary Helen1 Cool

When did the Emirates start manning the border posts? Up through 2000, I passed through those borders regularly and they were never open. You didn't even slow down. I always found it odd that they seemed to let Oman control the border. Was it the growth of tourism (and a new source of income) that started this up?

And with the tightening or rather the creating of a border at Buraimi - which for many years was merely a sign, one wonders whether the relationship between Oman and the UAE has deteriorated.

VS

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

Any idea how many border crossings there are? Oman wouldn't let us enter w/o the exit stamp from the UAE at Hatta's crossing, and there was a 7 km drive from the UAE's not-so-obvious border "trailer" and the Omani border buildings.

I wonder why, as a tourist, I didn't have to pay anyone crossing between those borders, though I was stamped at ever one and even had my retina scanned as I re-entered the UAE.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

It was about 4 years ago that UAE started up their border operations - and the border crossing at Hatta is deceptive as mishmumkin says - you actually have to look for it.

I know I had to pay 10AED at the UAE crossing and whatever the going rate was for a GCC resident at the Omani station there - maybe as a tourist they have an agreement that once you're in, you're in??

As for official crossings, I have only used 4 (2 in Al Ain, 1 in Hatta and the other in Fujairah).

thegreatergood · Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 13

thegreatergood · Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 13

TiP for drivers.
Both hands on the wheel at all times. Eyes always on the road, don't drift off. Keep checking the rear view mirrors, more than usual in fact. Vehicles can reach 200++ kilometers per hour if they have a young WastaFarian driving a new sports car. They don't feel the need to slow down and have been known to 'plow' into the back of vehicles that didn't move outta of the way fast enough. Causing cars to explode. Not really a rare occurance.

007 · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject:

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Actually I must disagree with thegreatergood. For a huge portion of the world - North America - and probably most other places, a four lane means two lanes each way - a two lane is one lane each way. In my many years of reading travel books and living abroad, I have never heard your definition.

I have done the drive both ways many times and personally it is no more dangerous than driving anywhere else... totally relaxing compared to Kuwait or Washington DC. All is relative... those with little driving experience may find it stressful.

But, you have to be a defensive driver... common sense everywhere in the world. I found the greatest danger to be the goats in Oman. At least now in the Emirates, they fence the camels off the road.

VS

007 · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject:

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

And the UAE roads and driving habits most strongly resemble the N. American system of roads.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Longton · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 148

I can give you up-to-date info on the crossing at Hatta. I am resident in UAE and together with two friends who were here on holiday we had a trip to Muscat about 10 days ago. We are all British. We went by my UAE registered car. The border crossing on departure and arrival was practically deserted � it was mid to late afternoon. The Omani passport office is in a huge building, rather like a palace. There were no iris scans. We were waved straight through customs by both UAE and Omani officials. Entering Oman I had to pay Dhs20 to Omani passport control and my two friends paid nothing. Returning I paid dhs30 and my two friends nothing. My Omani stamp allowed me to stay 28 days (for GCC residents) and my two friends has stamps for 21 days. I think the cost was for taking the car into and out of Oman. It couldn't have been any simpler and hassle free and is a great deal easier than taking a car across the causeway between Bahrain and Saudi. From the border to Muscat there is a dual carriageway (2 lanes in each direction) with a speed limit of Km120. It's a very good road but rather boring scenery. Petrol is a bit more expensive in Oman. I found the standard of driving in Oman much higher than that of UAE.

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

Longton, did you enter and return via the hatta border?

thegreatergood · Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 13

You will never hear ..oh they have a sixteen lane highway. Or do they? I don't recall hearing it in Cali. Was always, the six lane or 8 lane. And by this they clearly ment in each direction.

In America it could be that there are different usages of terms.
As we know language is quite liquid.

Retina scans happen at the UAE check points. They have the machines inside the buildings. You would not know about them unless you are pulled in for one. It is uncommon to be asked.

UAE and Oman safe driving ??!!! Mmmmmm that is quite funny.
The only reason Oman might appear safer (but it is not), is due to less
traffic. Signifigantly less.

Check your government web sites for information on road safety in the Middle East. Under the travel warning section listed by country.

Have a great trip ! Confused