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Freedom of movement within Saudi
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dutchman



Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Posts: 84

PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 8:46 pm    Post subject: Freedom of movement within Saudi Reply with quote

Is there any restriction to travelling within the Kingdom? Can someone working in Riyadh (with an iqama) go to Jeddah at the weekend, or does he or she have to get permission first from the employer, or the immigration office? If there is no restriction to travel, can Muslim employees simply go to the holy cities of Makka and Madina in their spare time ?
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007



Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:11 pm    Post subject: Re: Freedom of movement within Saudi Reply with quote

dutchman wrote:
Is there any restriction to travelling within the Kingdom? Can someone working in Riyadh (with an iqama) go to Jeddah at the weekend, or does he or she have to get permission first from the employer, or the immigration office? If there is no restriction to travel,

Well, Mustafa, the notion of freedom of movement in the Magic Kingdom is different from the notion used in USA or UK.
Freedom of movement in the Magic Kingdom is like freedom of speech in Russia! Laughing
You do not need a permission from your employer to travel inside the Kingdom (it used to be some years ago, but now that law is abolished!). But you need to have your iqama with you each time you travel, because the Magic Kingdom is full of check points!

Quote:
can Muslim employees simply go to the holy cities of Makka and Madina in their spare time ?

Yes. But there is a restriction on your travel for Makkah and Madinah during Hajj period, you need to apply for Hajj visa (allowed once for each 5 years).
BTW, I applaud the Turkish people when they go to Hajj, they are very well organized as group in their trip to Makkah.
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dutchman



Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Posts: 84

PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey 007, Thanks for the information. Sorry, I don't know your name. I tried to find from your posts, but all I could find was that you are an Arab. I could not find something more specific, or personal Smile

Anyway, I really appreciated your answer...I guess I should not listen to my dad, who was a student in Madina in the late 80s...I guess a lot have changed since then...
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The requirement for the TRAVEL LETTER from employers went some years ago.
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ummkhadija



Joined: 06 May 2010
Posts: 105
Location: ..The resort city of Saudi Arabia..

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 5:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello:

So, if the iqama is going to be under my name, does that mean that if my husband wants to travel on his own to another city, he can't do it without me?

Thanks,

UmmKhadija
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed



Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 6:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Those day, thankfully, are long gone...jes' don' let him be caught in the accompaniment of an unrelated female member of the fairer sex...

NCTBA
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007



Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 8:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ummkhadija wrote:
Hello:

So, if the iqama is going to be under my name, does that mean that if my husband wants to travel on his own to another city, he can't do it without me?

Thanks,

UmmKhadija

No. Your husband can travel within the Magic Kingdom because he is allowed to keeps his passport with him all the time (provided that it is stamped with the right husband residency visa). Don't let your employer keep his passport, because your are his Kafeel (sponsor/guarantor) not them!
The other option is that he can use a certified copy of your iqama each time he wants to travle inside the Magic Kingdom ( I think this is a good idea so that you keep his passport safe in the house!).
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Asda



Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 231

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

007: The Turkish pilgrims also rugby tackle people at the arena of the ka'bah and can shout down ANY group of football hooligans when they chant in unison...bless them!

NCTBA: "jes' don' let him be caught in the accompaniment of an unrelated female member of the fairer sex..." - can there be male members (no pun intended) of the fairer sex...?!?

UmmK: All dependents (even kids) get their own iqama card, so there shouldn't be any issues insha Allah (yani, God Willing, NOT a Saudi 'insha Allah')...
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed



Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 1:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Asda wrote:
NCTBA: "jes' don' let him be caught in the accompaniment of an unrelated female member of the fairer sex..." - can there be male members (no pun intended) of the fairer sex...?!?


Granted...then you get my tongue-in-cheekedness...ess.essness'...!!!

NCTBA
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Cleopatra



Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago

PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you are planning to stay in a hotel without your husband, it would be a good idea to get a letter from your sponsor. Strictly speaking, this is no longer required, but some hotel reception staff do still ask for it, so best to come prepared.
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amoyer



Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My question is similar. Once you have the Iqama can you leave the country on holiday? Are some places easier to travel to, such as Jordan, Syria, Oman, etc? What about a return home over a long break (US)?

Thanks
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed



Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...

PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 2:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Somebody better teach this person about the rapidity of saudi bureaucracy and the concept of the Exit/Reentry visa...

NCTBA
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svatopluk



Joined: 16 Sep 2009
Posts: 81

PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cleopatra wrote:
If you are planning to stay in a hotel without your husband, it would be a good idea to get a letter from your sponsor. Strictly speaking, this is no longer required, but some hotel reception staff do still ask for it, so best to come prepared.


Also, a good idea would be to knock up a sign saying: Open For Business and hang it from the door knob.

Let us know what sort of response you get Wink
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 11:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

svatopluk wrote:
Also, a good idea would be to knock up a sign saying: Open For Business and hang it from the door knob.

Let us know what sort of response you get Wink

Since it's your idea, why don't you do it. Let us know how it goes.

On second thought, don't tell us.

VS
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svatopluk



Joined: 16 Sep 2009
Posts: 81

PostPosted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 1:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As a straight male in Saudi I couldn't believe the amount of unwanted attention I got from the locals. It was like San Francisco in the sand. At Aramco I'd say 50% of my western colleagues were gay and man did they enjoy it. They're probably still there.
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