Expatriate Guide – Road trip from Doha to Dubai

Pre-requisite checklist: Passport for each passenger (With at least 6 months validity remaining on

Qatar Residence Permit) Qatar ID card for each passenger Qatar Drivers license for owner of the vehicle provided he/she is driving. No Objection letter from company for sponsored persons to obtain visa to

Saudi. Dependants do no require a letter if traveling with the sponsor (head of the family).

Exit permit for all persons sponsored by companies (Exit permit rules are the same as Airport exit)

Vehicle being driven needs to be in the name of the driver. If the vehicle is on finance or loan it is advisable that you obtain a no objection letter from your vehicle co-owner (Bank / Company). Sometimes it is not looked at but they may ask you for this letter at the border)

Keep at least on copy of each document for safekeeping. A copy of your driver’s license is advised to obtain the toll tag in Dubai.

Get a good Map and/or GPS for the trip. Ensure your vehicle is serviced and has good tires and a spare. Visa Requirements: Saudi Transit Visa (This visa is to be obtained for all passengers) – Offers a 30 day validity for round trip. The stipulation is that you have 3 days from date of entry into Saudi to cross the border into UAE and vice versa. Issuing Party: The Saudi Transit Visa can be obtained from some travel agents in Doha. There is one close to the Akai roundabout (Opposite side of the Pioneer Showroom) and another near the VW / Sana Fashion Roundabout (Opposite to Jabri Restaurant). It takes about 5 days to get the visa and the charges are Qrs. 75 per passport). UAE Visa – This Visa can mostly be obtained at the UAE border, if you are eligible to receive on arrival at UAE airport you can get on arrival visa for yourself and dependants at the border as well. If in doubt it is advisable to visit the UAE embassy (Diplomatic Area, past the Four Seasons hotel) and have them check your designation on your Qatari ID or Visa if you are eligible for Visa on arrival. If you are not eligible apply for visas at the embassy. Issuing Party: On Arrival visa is issued at the UAE border. Cost is Qrs. 100/- per person. Be warned that this will probably be your longest delay during the trip as the processing of on arrival visa takes quite some time. Road guide: Note: Try to start as early as possible in the day, this is advised as driving at night

can be dangerous, there are no streetlights on many long stretches of road. Ensure you have a full tank of Gas.

1. Leave Doha through the Salwa road. It is generally a straight road to the border after Industrial area barring any deviation / detours for construction.

2. At the Qatar Border you will need to present your Passport and vehicle

registration card. 3. Once past the border you will reach the Saudi Border, present passport and

vehicle registration card again. Your vehicle will also be checked by customs. 4. When driving out of customs there will be a little drive up booth from where

you obtain vehicle insurance for your car (Cost Qrs. 100/-). This insurance is valid for two weeks.

5. Out of the border post you will drive 5 Km and see a board pointing left with “UAE/Emirates” in big letters.

Note: If you are low on fuel you can drive past this signboard and find a petrol station very near by on the left. Fill up and then return back to the sign board to follow the UAE road. It is advisable to fill up here as the fuel is very cheap and there will not be another petrol station till you reach close to the UAE border around 150 Kms away.

6. The Saudi Road is safe to drive during the day but please be wary of the many trucks on these roads.

Note: It was noticed as common practice for vehicles from opposing traffic to suddenly come onto the road you are driving on. This is an alternative to the U-turn and can be quite a shock the first time, but keep an eye out for this and you should be ok.

7. When you reach the Saudi border with UAE, it is fairly quick. Same Passport and Visa vehicle card to be shown.

8. At the UAE border you will need to get down at the border, a building on the left is where you will need to go to obtain relevant visa.

Note: There are no boards or logical queuing systems, almost a free for all. You will need to ask which counter is issuing the On-arrival form. Fill out one form for each passenger, ensure that all adults passenger are then in the queue for the retina verification. Take the stamped form back to the counter to obtain the visa. (Charges are Qrs. 100 per person).

9. Once you have your visa stop just outside the customs checkpoint to obtain vehicle insurance. Cost is Qrs. 100/- valid for two weeks.

Note: You will then be driving a long stretch of 360 Kilometers to reach Abu Dhabi. So once again advised to fill up on Gas at the first opportunity. In the UAE, there are Adnoc Gas stations that will accept credit cards for all facilities (Fuel / Supermarket), all other Gas stations (Eppco/Enoc/Emirat) do not accept credit cards at all even in the supermarket.

10. Once you are past Abu Dhabi you will be driving another 150 Kms to reach Dubai. It is highly recommended that you stop and obtain a toll tag sticker (known as “Salik”) from any petrol station before you reach Dubai. There are fines for not having a toll tag.

Summary of Charges: Saudi Transit Visa: Qrs. 75 per person Saudi Insurance: Qrs. 100/- UAE Visa: Qrs. 100/- per person UAE Insurance: Qrs. 100/- UAE “Salik” Toll Tag: AED 100/- UAE Exit Charge: AED 25/- per person to be paid on return trip at UAE border.