Saudi Arabia Transit

[mbrauerma]

We (Austrian nationality) got our transit visa for Saudi Arabia in Muscat through an agent at the end of February 2014. Entry UAE, Exit Jordan.

As there were some critics for a comment of mine on travelling Iran by car, here a short disclaimer: This is how it worked for us. Your mileage may vary. So don't rely on it, do your own research ;-)

Agent:
Samir Hassan
Muscat International Travel
GSM +968 927 371
GPS: N23.59297° E58.42054°
opposite hotel Ibis, big sign "NAFCO"

We needed two photos and had to leave the passports, car license and driving license (orignal - no copies). Cost Saudi visa 20 OR. The first time we tried 20 days before the desired entry (we were told to come later again), the second time one week before the entry. Mr. Hassan told us that we can meet him in front of the Saudi embassy the next day at 1:30pm to pick up the visa (N23° 36.332' E058° 25.789').

The visa is valid for 30 days from issuing, allows for 3 days transit, has no fixed route in it, the car license plate is noted in the visa, entry & exit countries are written in arabic.

Jordan visa was already in our passport even though we could have gotten it on arrival. We also got it at the Jordan embassy in Muscat in one day (I think it was 15OR). (N23° 36.358 E058° 26.051)

Entry: the border from the UAE is open 24/7. So we entered two hours after midnight to get all out of our 3 days (beware of time zones!). No exit fee in the UAE. Customs did a good inventory of our car - there are guys to help you unload and load your stuff :-) Insurance is available (and necessary) at the border (I think it was 35SAR for seven days - payable in AED, office was also open at 2am). Immigration: leave your fingerprints.

Exit: We should have gotten a paper from customs on entry for our car - the guy at the exit border to Jordan couldn't find our car in the computer and only after a long time (our visa was about to finish in 15min) reentered the data and let us lucky ones go. The rest is straight-forward. You are not allowed to bring petrol/diesel in canisters to Jordan.

There is a petrol station and an ATM right after the UAE/Saudi border. Diesel is dirt cheap (about 15SAR for 60l) and a lot of petrol stations around the country. Streets are in quite good condition - but beware of some different kind of behaviour by other drivers :-)

Madaain Saleh: You need a permit to enter. This is obtainable in 5 min in Riyadh at the National Museum ("Saudi Comission for Tourism & Antiquities" N
24.64592° E 46.71114°) - room number 219 (enter through 215).

And: 3 days are definitely too short for that interesting country! The few glimpses we got makes you want to see more!

We heard also from two other german couples that got their transit visa recently: one also in Muscat (they told us about that posibillity - THANKS) and another one in Abu Dhabi (no details, but definitely more complicated and expensive).

Questions welcome, answers will come as soon time and internet are available ;-)

[danielsprague]

Great report, congratulations on doing this! Thanks for sharing your experience.

Did they mention anything about the car having to be left-hand drive??

[mbrauerma]

Originally Posted by danielsprague

Did they mention anything about the car having to be left-hand drive??

As far as I remember he asked - but I'm not 100% sure

[Dubai355]

Hi

thats a very good news
also a German Couples www.shumba.eu got thier visa few days back from AbuDhabi and directly they headed to the boarder.
they will exit KSA into Sudan.
wishing everybody a safe trip
Regards
Saleh
Dubai RIDERS

[mbrauerma]

Originally Posted by Dubai355

also a German Couples www.shumba.eu got thier visa few days back from AbuDhabi and directly they headed to the boarder.
they will exit KSA into Sudan.

yes this is the second couple that I mentioned :-)