UAE - "Visa-Run" to Oman and leaving bike in UAE
 

Hi Everyone,

I'm currently in UAE during a long trip and was offered to do a project for my German company here.
In general for this work a 30 day visit visa is enough, Germans receive these on arrival easily.
They are renewable once (another 30 days).
After that a common practice is to quickly fly to Oman and back which gives you a new visiting visa - called a "visa-run" here.

However, since I'm here with the bike on a CDP it may not be that easy.
Anyone knows if I'm able to do this with my bike registered in customs here and leaving the bike in UAE. I really want to avoid doing the customs paperwork all the time (not sure how long I will stay) just to get another 30 days.

Thanks in advance :)

Visa run / leaving bike in UAE
 

Hi Kolf


I don't think you will have any problem leaving your bike safely here if it's just for a day or two - hundreds of bikers here of all nationalities to ask and failing that, I have three warehouses in Al Quoz, Dubai.... they are a bit crowded but they are safe.


I can't be sure about the 'leaving for a visa run without bike' issue though my gut feeling it would be very simple. However you could try contacting Matthew Norman at the ATCUAE here to be sure. ATCUAE issue carnets here and Matthew is a biker. I think he's away over the Christmas holidays though. 04 2961122 matthew@atcuae.ae


Failing that if you go to the arrivals area at Terminal 3 of the Dubai airport, with the car parks behind you go to the right hand end of the hall. There is a large immigration documents centre there and I've found the staff there surprisingly knowledgeable and helpful. (Not always the case here but these guys seem to know their stuff.) They may be able to give you the best answer.


Best of luck - Tim

You could leave the bike in a mall car park, it would be pretty secure there for sure.
Hire a car and drive to the Hatta border and back, will take you about 4/5 hours round trip.

Thanks for the replies, just gave it a try today and worked like a charm.
Not sure if it was that legal though, never received feedback on my inquiry to RTA and Customs. But if you do it few days before expiry, well..."the guy at the harbour when entering told me its fine" and come back the next day with the bike :-)

A few information for others who want to do it...

I was recommended a company Go Tours Dubai, they do visa runs in minibuses from Marina Mall for 150dhs(~35€). The guys know the people at the border so processing is very smooth.

I was told by another German biker that the people at the border hardly know anything about Carnets, if you don't explicitly ask for an Exit/Entry stamp in the CDP they will just let you out and back in. Probably depends on the officers though.
So not much paperwork for a visa-run by bike as well. However you might need to buy an Oman insurance.

Oman Customs will not even understand what a CDP is

They may ask for Insurance - and this can be expensive for a bike for a short time.

I would park your bike in the UAE and take the Mini-Bus.....