Saudi Visas
 

This web site gives the information on Saudi Arabia and why it is not possible for transit visas for the ordinary traveller. Saudi Arabia travel guide - Wikitravel
Cheers
Ian:thumbup1:

"My Kingdom will survive only insofar as it remains a country difficult to access, where the foreigner will have no other aim, with his task fullfilled, but to get out." -- King Abdul Aziz bin Saud, c. 1930

Makes sense to me... How deeply the religion is rooted into this kingdom's infrastructure. But yet it makes it even more desirable to go there :)

Some day...

Cheers, Margus

Twenty years in Saudi
 

"We will use all that the foreiner has to teach and withhold bit by bit all that he desires and make him pay the price." Dessertstrom c 2008

Make the most of it while you can.

Cheers
Ian:thumbup1:

They might have to rewrite that article...
I've got a transit visa for a motorbike south to north through SA. Of course, they haven't actually let me in yet... perhaps they'll withhold that desire too...

We'll find out in a few days time. :scooter:
Stephan

hi stephano..

i hope they'll let you in. please keep us informed.

enjoy

Thanks. We'll find out on Saturday morning and let you know. :thumbup1:

I was planning to pass by Ankara after Iran but with this change of plan I don't think we'll come that way now. :(

Stephan

thanks stephano...

i have moved to istanbuş btw. whenever you come, you are always welcome!!

good luck on your trip.

On your way!
 

Hey Stephan,

Good luck for Saturday mate. Let us know how sore you bum is after 3000km in 3 days.........hahaha. Have a good trip mate, and should see you in Dubai again later in the year. BTW, how did yuo go with the camera?

Cheers
Ivan

Ivan
We made it through... 3,000km, came out on the morning of the 4th day but no problems on that score with the 3-day visa. It wasn't even mentioned.

To begin with, we rode 500km to Sila, UAE, just before the Saudi border. I'll post a waypoint for the resthouse later.

1st day of transit visa, we crossed into Saudi and just past the border there's a left turn for a straight road direct to Riyadh. Stayed at the Riyadh Youth Hostel.

2nd day in Saudi, stopped somewhere past Hail which is where the scenery actually starts getting interesting. (The first twisties were after 1200km!)

3rd day, we reached Al Ula and then on to Duba on the Red Sea coast.

Arrived at Jordanian border the next morning. A police patrol car spotted us just after Hail and from then on we had police 'protection' all the way to the border, about 20 different vehicles in total who handed over to the next as we left their areas, all very friendly and patient. No hassle at all.

In Duba, we met Egyptians waiting to catch the ferry to Egypt who had come along the main highways by car, i.e. UAE ==> Riyadh ==> Jeddah ==> up the coast. I think our route was more interesting.

Stephan

Hi Stephan,
Congratulations on Saudi transit, and it is real good to hear positive comments, it is not the worst place in the world!
Interested to get the Sila resthouse info, it would be handy if crossing in the evening. I have ridden to UAEtwice, but both times left Riyadh at dawn, might be a time I would leave in afternoon and need a break at Sila.
Could you post the .gdb file for the Al Ula - Al Wedhj road, in case I get a chance to ride it? Was in Al Ula a few years ago, fascinating.
Mabruk!
Laurence

Cheers, Laurence.
I think the worst thing about Saudi was the driving in Riyadh. I am used to daily bike commuting in Sharjah but some Riyadh drivers were manically aggressive and red light jumping was frequent. There seemed to be a lot of repressed energy out there on the roads!

I will sort out the waypoint info soon. Meanwhile, coming from Saudi the resthouse in on the main road just past the Sila town turning. It would be on your right hand side and is possibly the last building past the petrol station.

The Wehj road is not hard to find either; especially as you will probably have a police escort.
Stephan

Clarification
 

I hope you enjoyed your trip through Saudi, indeed the more mountainous areas are excellent.
It's worth pointing out that if you are employed in one of the Gulf states you will get a transit visa but if you are a westerner doing a RWT you won't get one.
Cheers
Ian :thumbup1:

hey stephano,

congrats on making it to the elite !!! :rofl:

i've been hearing rumours from a long time in the local press that the tourism ministry is going to ease up the visa regulations to cater to the other kind of tourists (non-religious) also. Its good to hear that the changes seem to be happening.

oh, yeah the Riyadh traffic/driving is horrible (even by saudi standards) .. I guess saudis are infamous all over the region for their signal jumping - lane cutting - footpath driving expertise. no wonder people give way in UAE/Bahrain when they see me in their mirrors !!!

I am myself planning a ride to Dubai/Abudhabi from Al-khobar (saudi east coast city) in the forthcoming Hajj holidays (5th Dec onwards i guess) ...

hope to catch up with the UAE HUBB boys/girls.

cheers
Vicky

It would be great to meet you in December, Vicky. Drop me a line when you're on your way. Stephan :welcome:

UAE to Europe
 

Hiya,

I just picked up this thread and hope that you are doing well wherever you are heading to.

I have just started planning a trip from the UAE to Europe. Im pretty familiar with the UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan having lived in the Gulf for 13 years, but not sure which way to go next. Turn left at Jordan and go through Egypt, Liybia and Tunisia (a la Ewan and Charley) or turn right and go through Syria or Lebanon and Turkey? Any advice for me??

Andy