Doha - Saudi - Bahrain Road trip

A Short travelogue for people, who may intent to take a Doha – Bahrain – Doha Road trip in future!!

Total Distance clocked: 1065 Kms
Doha (Mansoura) to Bahrain (Manama): 485 Kms
Car: Nissan Altima 2.5S
Drive time: 6 hours – it may increase if there is a delay at check post particularly at Saudi – Bahrain Causeway check post
Route: Doha – Al Ahasa (bypass) – Abqaiq - Al Khobar (bypass) – Bahrain
Must Have: GPS with Qatar / Saudi and Bahrain map loaded, I used Nokia E71 mobile GPS loaded with Nokia Maps, it was very helpful
One must arrange for Saudi Transit Visa, rest all such as Bahrain Visa / Car Insurance can be obtained at the check post en route.

Road condition: The entire stretch was fine, expect for a few detours inside Saudi. Saudi Roads has very few signboards; it will be really tough without a GPS. While going from Qatar, just keep looking for Dammam road, as you close inn, you will find signboards for Bahrain. Avoid traveling at Night times in the Saudi stretch as you will face on-coming vehicles headlight and the entire stretch is a barren desert on both sides with very few stop-points. When it’s windy, you will literally feel the vehicle drift at speeds over 120 Kms particularly in Saloon cars; advisable to go by a big 4by4 – please avoid any smaller saloon / hatch on this stretch.

Visa Norms
Saudi Transit Visa (Round Trip – 3 day Visa) – To apply, you need
Original passport, and copies of identification page and RP
Two passport size photographs with white background
No Objection Letter (NOC) from company for sponsored persons to obtain visa to Saudi. Dependants do not require a letter if traveling with the sponsor (head of the family)
Copies of vehicle registration card (Istimarah) – if vehicle not in the name of the driver then NOC to be sought from either bank or company
Fee: 135QR per passport
Process time: Between 2 & 4 working days
Agent detail for processing Saudi Visa: Al Asayel Co. (Tel.: 44805606, Mobile: 5680914) - Near Sana/VW Roundabout. Next to Mercedes Showroom. Driving B-Ring Road passing Oasis Signal, continue until Sana Roundabout, make U-turn.
Bahrain Visa can be obtained on-arrival for GCC Residents, if the following conditions are met
Causeway Visa on arrival Conditions:
Grant conditions:
Applicant must be entering the Kingdom of Bahrain via the Causeway when applying for this visa.
The visa is issued at the Causeway in the Kingdom of Bahrain / Visa fee is paid at the Causeway in the Kingdom of Bahrain (Causeway Visa Fee: 6 BD for 3-day visa, and 12 BD for 7-day visa)
Applicant must have had a current resident permit of a GCC state for at least 6 months.
Applicant’s resident permit for a GCC state must be valid for at least another 6 months.
Your entry must not violate the security and national welfare of Bahrain.
Passport must be valid for length of time you will be in Bahrain, or the length of the visa, whichever is longer.
If your passport validity is in doubt, you may be denied entry to Bahrain.
Stay conditions:
Length of stay allowed is 3 days or 7 days – you can request either 3 / 7 based on your duration of stay at Bahrain.
It’s a Single entry visa.

Cost Estimates (for a Couple for a road trip to Bahrain by Car)
Conversion: 1 BD = 9 QR and 1 QR = 1 SAR; at almost all the places you can use Qatari Riyals but advisable to have some SR and some BD to avoid exchange losses.
Saudi Transit Visa: 270 QR (or 135QR per passport)
Saudi Insurance: 70 SAR
Bahrain Visa: 12 BD (6 BD per 3-day stay)
Bahrain Insurance (2 day): 2 BD for 3 day cover
Toll Gate: 40 SAR (20 SAR one way)
Fuel: 100 SR at the Max (Fill your entire trip fuel at Saudi Gas stations, its very cheap – .47 SR per liter) – The first Saudi Fuel station is 110 Kms from Doha
Total Cost for the road trip (excludes hotel / food expenses): 600 QRS approximately
For the information, a 2-night stay in a 1-bedroom apartment with breakfast in Bahrain will cost you 60 BD apx. (A decent standard hotel)

It’s indeed a nice getaway for a weekend, you can start by Thursday 3 pm and make it by night to Bahrain and be back to Qatar on Saturday evening / night. Esp for a alcoholic brads, its a kewl getaway....