Driving to UAE by road (Road trip to UAE)

Some of driving enthusiasts might be eager to know about the road trip t0 UAE (Abu Dabhi / Dubai).

We did a trip in late 2013 . The key steps that you need to know are as follows:

{C}·             {C}Ensure that all travelers have passports with valid visa

{C}·             {C}Ensure that all passports have at least 2 blank pages in them (Saudi immigration may check this)

{C}·             {C}Obtain company letter to apply for Saudi Visa.

{C}·             {C}The car must be on your name – without bank loan.

{C}·             {C}​Give application to Saudi visa travel agent (We approached Al-Asayel Co. Tel 4437 2784 or 4480 5606) Cost is 150 per person. Time taken to get visa – 5 to 7 days. Provide the copy of car isthemara along with the visa application.

{C}·             {C}We could obtain ‘visa on arrival’ at UAE border. Visa cost was (I think, 100 AED per passport).

{C}·             {C}In addition to Visa at KSA and UAE border, you must take short term car insurance. This is available at Borders and is a must, before you can enter the new country. (you will enter two countries while travelling to UAE (KSA and UAE) )

{C}·             {C}As  a minimum, make sure your car is serviced, washed, fuel tanks are full. Before you start the trip, ensure that you have taken your passports, Driving licence, Car isthemara, Car Insurance papers, Hotel booking papers, Contact list of hotel including phone numbers, at least 4 bottles of 1.5 litre water bottles per person, credit cards, ATM card,  fully charged (credit balance + battery) mobile phones,

The details of the travel are as follows. We took a break at Abu Dabhi. The distance and time noted are to reach Abu Dabhi. To Dubai, consider another 160 KM and about 1.5 hours to the trip.

{C}·        {C}In short:

{C}·             {C}Doha to Qatar Border (within Qatar) – 111 KM, I hour. Noticed several cameras on the road.

{C}·             {C}Qatar border to UAE border (within KSA) : 129 KM, 1 hr, 20 minutes drive. Did not see any cameras on the road. There are some petrol stations on the way.  Make sure your car has sufficient fuel, since the next stretch is long drive.

{C}·             {C}KSA Border to Abu Dabhi (Within UAE): 366 KM, 3 hours drive. Several cameras. There is a good petrol station in between. That is from where we refilled our car.

{C}·             {C}Total distance to Abu Dabhi : 600 KM.

{C}·             {C}Total time taken: 8:15 hours, including 3 hours for two number of border crossings.

SEE ATTACHED FILE FOR DISTANCE/TIME FOR THE DRIVE.