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desert_traveller
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 335
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 Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:19 am Post subject: Driving in KSA: business visa: renting and crossing borders |
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Just like before, the other day I popped in a few car rental agencies to get a long term rent in Riyadh. I am staying in Saudi on a business visa, so as far as I know getting a Saudi licence and buying a car is out of my reach. Hence the renting. However, I was surprised to hear from a few agents that it is now almost impossible to get the GCC permit for crossing borders if you only have a business visa, as the applications bounce back from the Traffic Police rejected, while people with iqamas and Saudi licences get it no problem.
Any insights on this? I would like to hear from people with business visas who drive in Saudi and have been to other GCC countries with their cars and/or got the permit recently.
Also, I was unable to get an offer below SAR 2000 per month. Is that realistic? Last time I got a good car for 1250 pm, but now I am thinking that was rather the exception than the standard.
Any opinions greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
DT |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:05 am Post subject: |
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| Seems a lot to me. Should get a better deal than that. Have you tried getting a local to do it for you ? |
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Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
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| Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:11 am Post subject: Re: Validity of foreign driving licences in KSA |
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Hi there,
This is slightly off topic but I'm sure others would benefit from knowing the answer to this question also.
Just out of curiosity, I have an English licence and a Thai licence. Are either/both of these valid in KSA and how easy is it to use them to hire a car?
Balzac |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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I suspect that a closer examination will reveal that your driving licence, like your passport, is not ENGLISH but issued by the UK Government.
If you have an Iqama you can get a Saudi licence on the strength of the British one. You need an eye test. (Sometimes.) |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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Of course there is no such an English or Scottish driving license!
Either a British (or UK) driving license.
And you need a 'mouth' test!  |
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Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:54 am Post subject: |
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OK, I see,
nothing has changed here has it. Still the same people with too much time on their hands with cheap shots. Obviously, I meant I had a UK Driving licence issued in England.
Can we get over all this childish, pedantic scoring of points?! It's inane and seems the people who are the worst at this are the ones who've been treading these boards a while and have developed a smug, self-satisfied air - a know-it-all attitude that is very irritating.
Quit the semantics and just answer the question why don't you!
Balzac |
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Neil McBeath
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Posts: 277
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:17 am Post subject: |
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Good for you, Balzac!
It's about time that someone reacted to the incessant topic-cloggers, who have nothing to say, but say it anyway.
To answer your question, the British Embassy in Riyadh ought to be able to authenticate your driving licence and that would allow you to get a Saudi Licence (or driving permit , or what have you).
The Thai licence could be more troublesome. Saudi-Thai relations aren't always harmonious - I belive that it's still officially forbidden for Saudi nationals to visit Thailand. |
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Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:35 am Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| I suspect that a closer examination will reveal that your driving licence, like your passport, is not ENGLISH but issued by the UK Government. |
Scot47, I can be pedantic too. My passport was not issued by the UK Government and my avatar should have given that away. Does this negativity on my part make me look good. Look clever? Make me seem like I'm on top of things? No, and that's the way you look every time you nitpick and post these kinds of semantic non sequiturs.
Enough already. Nobody wants to read your pathetic attempts at trying to look clever or educated. IMHO, the people who do that are usually just compensating for the fact that they aren't clever or educated and need approval or to be seen to be so.
B |
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Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:52 am Post subject: |
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| Neil McBeath wrote: |
Good for you, Balzac!
It's about time that someone reacted to the incessant topic-cloggers, who have nothing to say, but say it anyway. |
Yeah, unfortunately, the numbers of these people keeps increasing every time I visit this board. I've been coming here on and off for more years than I care to mention and do it just to share information and hear others' opinions, not to get bogged down in silly little mind games or to listen to prejudice and propaganda. It makes me wonder what these people are like in the classroom and whether they treat their charges with such disdain. I hope this is not indicative of other westerners in KSA. Avoid these other three like the plague - Cleopatra, bje, and 007 - they were made with the same mould.
| Quote: |
| To answer your question, the British Embassy in Riyadh ought to be able to authenticate your driving licence and that would allow you to get a Saudi Licence (or driving permit , or what have you). |
Thanks for that. The kind of advice I was looking for.
| Quote: |
| The Thai licence could be more troublesome. Saudi-Thai relations aren't always harmonious - I belive that it's still officially forbidden for Saudi nationals to visit Thailand. |
I learnt something new here. I wasn't aware that Saudi nationals are still officially forbidden to visit Thailand. I guess it's the label for excessive alcohol and sex so probably isn't that surprising.
Thanks for a polite, informative post - a rarity these days.
Balzac |
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