Expatriate Guide – Road trip from Doha to Dubai

Pre-requisite checklist:

Passport for each passenger (With at least 6 months validity remaining on

Qatar Residence Permit)
Qatar ID card for each passenger
Qatar Drivers license for owner of the vehicle provided he/she is driving.
No Objection letter from company for sponsored persons to obtain visa to
Saudi. Dependants do no require a letter if traveling with the sponsor (head of
the family).
Exit permit for all persons sponsored by companies (Exit permit rules are the
same as Airport exit)
Vehicle being driven needs to be in the name of the driver. If the vehicle is on
finance or loan it is advisable that you obtain a no objection letter from your
vehicle co-owner (Bank / Company). Sometimes it is not looked at but they
may ask you for this letter at the border)
Keep at least on copy of each document for safekeeping. A copy of your
driver’s license is advised to obtain the toll tag in Dubai.
Get a good Map and/or GPS for the trip.
Ensure your vehicle is serviced and has good tires and a spare.

Visa Requirements:
Saudi Transit Visa (This visa is to be obtained for all passengers) – Offers a 30 day
validity for round trip. The stipulation is that you have 3 days from date of entry into
Saudi to cross the border into UAE and vice versa.

Issuing Party: The Saudi Transit Visa can be obtained from some travel agents in
Doha. There is one close to the Akai roundabout (Opposite side of the Pioneer
Showroom) and another near the VW / Sana Fashion Roundabout (Opposite to Jabri
Restaurant). It takes about 5 days to get the visa and the charges are Qrs. 75 per
passport).

UAE Visa – This Visa can mostly be obtained at the UAE border, if you are eligible
to receive on arrival at UAE airport you can get on arrival visa for yourself and
dependants at the border as well. If in doubt it is advisable to visit the UAE embassy
(Diplomatic Area, past the Four Seasons hotel) and have them check your designation
on your Qatari ID or Visa if you are eligible for Visa on arrival. If you are not eligible
apply for visas at the embassy.

Issuing Party: On Arrival visa is issued at the UAE border. Cost is Qrs. 100/- per
person. Be warned that this will probably be your longest delay during the trip as the
processing of on arrival visa takes quite some time.

Road guide:
Note: Try to start as early as possible in the day, this is advised as driving at night
can be dangerous, there are no streetlights on many long stretches of road.
Ensure you have a full tank of Gas.
1. Leave Doha through the Salwa road. It is generally a straight road to the
border after Industrial area barring any deviation / detours for construction.
2. At the Qatar Border you will need to present your Passport and vehicle
 registration card.
3. Once past the border you will reach the Saudi Border, present passport and
vehicle registration card again. Your vehicle will also be checked by customs.
4. When driving out of customs there will be a little drive up booth from where
you obtain vehicle insurance for your car (Cost Qrs. 100/-). This insurance is
valid for two weeks.
5. Out of the border post you will drive 5 Km and see a board pointing left with
“UAE/Emirates” in big letters.
Note: If you are low on fuel you can drive past this signboard and find a petrol
station very near by on the left. Fill up and then return back to the sign board
to follow the UAE road. It is advisable to fill up here as the fuel is very cheap
and there will not be another petrol station till you reach close to the UAE
border around 150 Kms away.
6. The Saudi Road is safe to drive during the day but please be wary of the many
trucks on these roads.
Note: It was noticed as common practice for vehicles from opposing traffic to
suddenly come onto the road you are driving on. This is an alternative to the
U-turn and can be quite a shock the first time, but keep an eye out for this and
you should be ok.
7. When you reach the Saudi border with UAE, it is fairly quick. Same Passport
and Visa vehicle card to be shown.
8. At the UAE border you will need to get down at the border, a building on the
left is where you will need to go to obtain relevant visa.
Note: There are no boards or logical queuing systems, almost a free for all. You will
need to ask which counter is issuing the On-arrival form. Fill out one form for
each passenger, ensure that all adults passenger are then in the queue for the
retina verification. Take the stamped form back to the counter to obtain the
visa. (Charges are Qrs. 100 per person).
9. Once you have your visa stop just outside the customs checkpoint to obtain
vehicle insurance. Cost is Qrs. 100/- valid for two weeks.
Note: You will then be driving a long stretch of 360 Kilometers to reach Abu Dhabi.
So once again advised to fill up on Gas at the first opportunity.
In the UAE, there are Adnoc Gas stations that will accept credit cards for all
facilities (Fuel / Supermarket), all other Gas stations (Eppco/Enoc/Emirat) do
not accept credit cards at all even in the supermarket.
10. Once you are past Abu Dhabi you will be driving another 150 Kms to reach
Dubai. It is highly recommended that you stop and obtain a toll tag sticker
(known as “Salik”) from any petrol station before you reach Dubai. There are
fines for not having a toll tag.

Summary of Charges:
Saudi Transit Visa: Qrs. 75 per person
Saudi Insurance: Qrs. 100/-
UAE Visa: Qrs. 100/- per person
UAE Insurance: Qrs. 100/-
UAE “Salik” Toll Tag: AED 100/-
UAE Exit Charge: AED 25/- per person to be paid on return trip at UAE border.