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HCEG1
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
Posts: 36
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 Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:48 am Post subject: Getting to Dubai from Riyadh for Eid |
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I searched Jazeera Airlines for a flight from Riyadh to Dubai any time around the upcoming Eid holiday, but of course absolutely every date is fully booked. I'm not familiar with the other airlines, but I'm guessing they will all be fully booked as well.
Getting to Bahrain, by road is an option (?), as there must be regular flights from there to Dubai.
If anyone has any great ideas of how to get there I'd be very grateful.
One more thing. I'll be on a 6 month multi entry visa. Can I hire a car using my full British licence?
Thanks in advance |
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Longton
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:57 am Post subject: |
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| Try airarabia.com from Riyadh to Sharjah and then hire a car at the airport, take a taxi or bus to Dubai. Hiring a car in UAE with a full British licence presents no problems. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Dubai is a popular holiday destination for Saudis and expats, so it's not surprising that getting a flight at peak periods is difficult. As the above poster says, Air Arabia is an option, and they often have seats when other airlines are full. You could also try going into a travel agency and asking to be put on the waiting list for a Riyadh-Dubai flight. Given that there are a few weeks to go before your planned date of travel, there's a very good chance you could still get on a 'fully booked' flight. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: Re: Getting to Dubai from Riyadh for Eid |
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| HCEG1 wrote: |
Getting to Bahrain, by road is an option (?), as there must be regular flights from there to Dubai.
If anyone has any great ideas of how to get there I'd be very grateful.
One more thing. I'll be on a 6 month multi entry visa. Can I hire a car using my full British licence?
Thanks in advance |
Well, why don't you travel by car from Riyadh to Dubai?
It is more convenient and less expensive, you can use you car to visit the different Emirates of UAE. |
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HCEG1
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: Getting to Dubai from Riyadh for Eid |
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| 007 wrote: |
| HCEG1 wrote: |
Getting to Bahrain, by road is an option (?), as there must be regular flights from there to Dubai.
If anyone has any great ideas of how to get there I'd be very grateful.
One more thing. I'll be on a 6 month multi entry visa. Can I hire a car using my full British licence?
Thanks in advance |
Well, why don't you travel by car from Riyadh to Dubai?
It is more convenient and less expensive, you can use you car to visit the different Emirates of UAE. |
Thanks for the help guys. I'll try Air Arabia and driving all the way is an option, but can I rent a car in Saudi (on a busness visa & full British licence) and be allowed to take it into the UAE?
Edit: Booked on Airarabia into Sharjah. Thanks!
BTW, the drive sounds like a nightmare, 12 hours on a road full of trucks  |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| BTW, the drive sounds like a nightmare, 12 hours on a road full of trucks |
Yes, it can be a nightmare if you are not prepared. There is NOTHING between Al Hasa and Ruwais....and certainly no facilities at all if a female is travelling with you. You need to be prepared with food, water, and gas (petrol) because "rest stops" are few and far between. It's grim to say the least, but sort of interesting to do it once if you're into Bedu and camels and all that. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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Some years ago, during Eid holiday I did travel by car from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi.
I spent one night in Al-Hufof, and then I continued my travel in the early morning, and reached Abu Dhabi around 2 pm afternoon.
It was a fantastic adventure, especially the view of the sea between the border of the magic kingdom and UAE.
The only problem was the long queue of cars and buses when going out from the magic kingdom. |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:44 am Post subject: |
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Next time, go to a travel agent. There are so many airlines and so many ways to get to one place, that it is almost impossible to do it all yourself if you are unable to find a seat.
In the US, you can log on to www.orbitz.com and other similar sites. Until there is something like that here, use a travel agent, esp at the last minute, when you need to find a seat, and at the lowest price as well. Not to mention, if there is nothing available, a travel agent can put you onto waiting lists for several flights each for several airlines. |
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Bebsi
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958
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| Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, it is indeed possible to hire a car on a business visa and using an EU licence.
Taking it out is also not a problem, at least to Bahrain (and by logical extension...hmmm, okayyyyy) the UAE. You will need to get a special paper from the rental company which will cost a few hundred SAR, which paper you will then need to present at the border.
In the magic kingdom, anything and everything is possible!! |
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HCEG1
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Bebsi wrote: |
Yes, it is indeed possible to hire a car on a business visa and using an EU licence.
Taking it out is also not a problem, at least to Bahrain (and by logical extension...hmmm, okayyyyy) the UAE. You will need to get a special paper from the rental company which will cost a few hundred SAR, which paper you will then need to present at the border.
In the magic kingdom, anything and everything is possible!! |
Two possble scenarios
i) Initially, I was thinking of driving to Bahrain, leaving the hire car @ the airport and flying to Dubai
ii) When 007 mentioned driving from Riyadh to Dubai, I briefly contemplated doing that
However, I'm delighted to be flying, even if it is to Sharjah. The ring road will get me to where I need to be in DXB in 20 mins or so.
I also understand I can pick up yellow bebsi on my arrival at the airport  |
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Bebsi
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Initially, I was thinking of driving to Bahrain, leaving the hire car @ the airport and flying to Dubai |
Well, HCEG1, if you were to go for that option, it would still take you about 4-5 hrs from Riyadh at a busy time, and then there's the getting-parking-at-Bahrain-airport bit. After that, you still have the airport queuing bit. It would, in fact, be pretty much as fast to simply go for the other option, i.e. driving to UAE. Never did it, but I understand from friends that it takes about 9-10 hrs from Riyadh to Dubai at a reasonable clip.
It also saves you having to rent a car at the other end....not to mention, if you go shopping in UAE you can just turf all your purchases in the boot (trunk to all you USAnians) for the trip home, without excess luggage worries. Certain liquid products available in UAE but not in KSA, however, I would most definitely refrain from carrying.
Take a load of CDs, a few packets of your fave chews and plenty drinks and settle in for a smooth, relaxing drive in pleasant winter sunshine. It's mostly across desert, on very good roads with not that much traffic. It's driving WITHIN Saudi cities that I always found stressful, mainly on weekend nights.
Whichever way you go, enjoy your trip! |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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| If you do rent a car, please check very carefully to see that you have the proper permission to take it out of Saudi Arabia. I have friends who were turned back at the UAE border because they lacked the correct papers for taking the car out. The laws on this one change frequently, so make sure that your information is up to date. |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Why doesn't the OP just stay in Riyadh and enjoy what it offers? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:53 am Post subject: |
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| The same reason that you do not spend your entire life in that wonderful Spanish Golf Club. Humans move around. That is what we do. |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| The same reason that you do not spend your entire life in that wonderful Spanish Golf Club. Humans move around. That is what we do. |
I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life on a sunny Spanish golf course. Sun, cold beer, good company? What more could a man want?
I'm slightly less ancient than you are and want to put my feet up. Don't you, old boy? I might even start reading books in my dotage.
Regards
El jeque. |
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