Driving for Umrah from Qatar : An amazing weekend

I just wanted to share with you my experience in performing Umrrah this weekend (attached some photos, you can see how close we were to Ka3ba)

I drove from Doha with family on Thursday after noon to Saudi; it took us around 35 minutes to reach the borders. the service was very good with a smile at the Qatari immigration office. Didn't know what was waiting for us on the other side. Immigration and Customs were OK, of course after fighting to be in the line of the non-organized lanes (someone hit my rear pumper, don\t worry it is not a big issue).
At the immigration office, you get the information bit-by bit, first there are forms to be filled (of course I lost my turn). Then you are told to get finger prints and photo, then women to d the same in another place, here comes the tragedy. The room can fit only 10 women was full of around 30, weak AC and xxxx smell. The system and the employee were down ;) so we have to wait. After talking to the duty officer, he finally convinced to accept women to do the finger prints and photo in the male hall, the system was also down.
After 3 hours, he let us go although the system didn’t respond. The surprise is : if skipped the photo and fingerprint thing, no one would notice funny, huh
It’s not over yet, at the last gate; we were requested to submit a photocopy of the passport with the visa. We had to go to a xxx room to scan the passports. hurryaa it’s finally over.

The road is OK and everything was great (kids still quite), it’s around 1 hour till we reach Al-Hafuf (a city between Salwa and Dammam). I asked a patrol officer (Can I drive to Dammam without driving through Hofuf, to avoid the city crowed?) He burst and blasted “You have to go through Hofuf, do you need us to build a road only for you?) I couldn’t stop laughing and ran out of words. I think it was a curse, I had to drive through the city taking a wrong turn which led me to the most crowded streets and this happened on our way back) LOOOOL
We finally reached Dammam and spent the night in a nice furnished apartment FOR 150 RIYALS per night (what a price). Early morning drove to the airport and direct to Jeddah (of course wearing the Ihram). Arriving Jeddah and then a taxi to Makkah, here is the good part.
Once we are in Makkah premises, we started to have this sweet and tender feeling of getting close to the house of Allah. Checked-in the Abraj Hilton hotel at the Saha of Kaba, WHAT A VIEW. We started to perform Umrrah directly which took around 2 hours and just the Jumaa prayer was starting. What a feeling to pray with Al-Ka3ba in front of you, people were crying, asking Allah for mercy, others were reading Quran, while others were just looking at the Ka3ba.

We managed to pray 6 prayers in Ka3ba and then flew Saturday night to Dammam, spent the night in the same hotel (it’s yet cheaper in week days WOW).
Sunday morning, drove to Doha having less hassle with the immigration officials in the other side of the borders and then the worm welcome smile in the Qatar side of the borders.

I am attaching some photos from the inside of the Mosque; It’s an amazing feeling and happiness just to be there.
Hope those who never been there to intend going ASAP, believe me there is nothing would equal such a trip.

Allah bless you all