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Cuffs
Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 77
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 Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:58 pm Post subject: Driving from Al Khobar to Qatar: your advice and tips please |
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Good evening
I intend to drive from Al Khobar to Doha fairly soon for a weekend visit to see friends and family, and would appreciate any help you can give to the following queries.
I'm driving a rental car at the moment, on a combination of British and International licenses. I have got my Iqama (in 16 days flat - is this a new record?) and have applied to my employer for a multiple exit visa, which should be ready at some point in the next week.
Advice from a couple of my students today was that I would be able to take the car across the border with no trouble if I got written permission from the rental company and paid a little more insurance. Does anyone have any information which would contradict that? When I lived in Qatar tourists could drive on International licenses for at least two weeks, but is it a different story if crossing into the country by land?
Also, does anyone have any info on border waiting periods? There is a five year old post here which says the Saudi side is 2 hours, Qatar side 5 minutes. Is there anyone with more recent experience?
Ordinarily I wouldn't consider driving, but I'm picking up a bicycle in Doha and bringing it back to Al Khobar. Given previous experience with bikes and planes, I'd rather drive, but if I'm going to spend most of my weekend in transit, flying may be my only option.
I'll try to check with the rental company itself tomorrow morning, but any input you can give is gratefully received.
Thanks.
Cuffs
Last edited by Cuffs on Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:31 pm Post subject: Re: Driving from Al Khobar to Qatar: your advice and tips pl |
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| Cuffs wrote: |
| I'm driving a rental car at the moment, on a combination of British and International licenses. |
Since you have a British driving license, you can convert it into a Saudi one, and use it to drive in Qatar.
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| I have got my Iqama (in 16 days flat - is this a new record?) |
No. Uncle Scott got his in less than 16 days! 
| Quote: |
| Advice from a couple of my students today was that I would be able to take the car across the border with no trouble if I got written permission from the rental company and paid a little more insurance. Does anyone have any information which would contradict that? |
It will depend on the rental compagny and type of insurance you will take. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 4:12 am Post subject: |
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Like most of my colleagues I got my Iqama in a few days. It is no big deal if you have carefully chosen a good master before you sign these indentures.
Being careful about that is a sure prophylactic against the later development of "Drapetomania". I recommend a look at Wikipedia to read up on that condition, together with the related ailment "Dyaesthesia Aethiopica".
As for driving from Khobar to Qatar I believe it is quite easy BUT having a car that does not belong to you will complicate the bureaucracy involved. Would it not be easier to fly Dammam-Doha and rent a car in Doha ? |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Once you are legally resident in Saudi you can't drive on an international licence. Get a Saudi driving licence. |
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