Abu Dhabi Travel Forum

anybody can adivse me a professional routing with all its travel requirements for a land trip from Abu Dhabi City to Mecca and Madeena for Umra.
1) From where I can have a detailed Road Map showing petrol pumps and rest places ?
2) Is Guide signs are in English over saudi Roads ?
3) Best timing to drive ?
4) Things should be in the car ?


Assalamu Alaikkum

Rafeek

First you have to apply for your visa from Saudi Consulate and u will have to submit your passport. Once it is done then you can drive any time. Remember the car should be in ur name. You cannot even take the car if it is on loan or else you will have to take a written letter from the bank to show @ the KSA border. You can drive any time even if its night time no problem. The sign are shown every where indicating Sila border which is 450 to 500km from A/D. There is a check point @ the border, you should fill your Petrol tank before that it self coz after that there is no petrol pump till 380km. After driving 11hrs from Sila border you will the capital city of Riyadh city which is the capital city of KSA.
Am sure you will enjoy ur trip. Pls pray for me.

Hamed.

First you have to apply for your visa from Saudi Consulate and u will have to submit your passport. Once it is done then you can drive any time. Remember the car should be in ur name. You cannot even take the car if it is on loan or else you will have to take a written letter from the bank to show @ the KSA border. You can drive any time even if its night time no problem. The sign are shown every where indicating Sila border which is 450 to 500km from A/D. There is a check point @ the border, you should fill your Petrol tank before that it self coz after that there is no petrol pump till 380km. After driving 11hrs from Sila border you will reach Riyadh city which is the capital city of KSA.
Am sure you will enjoy ur trip. Pls pray for me.

Hamed.

Well there are many formalities you have to comply if you want to travel by land for UMRA. The best place to find out about the exact details is:

Royal Consulate General of Saudi Arabia P.O.Box 1876, Dubai (04) 2663383

Just some of the information:

Hajj and Umrah visas
A hajj visa is one that is issued to a Muslim wishing to take part in the hajj, which occurs during the first half of the twelfth Islamic month. Hajj visas are issued according to a quota system -- one for every 1000 Muslims in a country's population. Generally, it is very difficult -- not to say impossible -- to get a hajj visa outside one's home country.
An umrah visa is issued to any Muslim who wishes to visit and pray in the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah. The Umrah visa is issued at any time other than the actual hajj. In order to obtain an Umrah visa, an application must be made in applicant's home country or in the country in which one holds permanent residence.
If the applicant is not from a Muslim country or does not have a Muslim name, he will be asked to provide an official document listing Islam as his religion. Converts must provide documentary evidence of their conversion from a mosque. An Umrah visa is valid for a week and only for travel to Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah and on the roads linking them. If travel is to be completely by road, one is allowed to travel from the land border where he enters the Kingdom to the Holy Cities.

Hi Friend

Regarding Umra Visa its free from KSA, approach any of agents 2-weeks before travel, further you will be asked for vacination from central hospital.

Take English to Arabic book along with you, as at every point you may need it, further be prepared to have arabic food on way as Indian food is rarely found but you can find Pakastanis hotels at both Makkah & Madinah city.

Border is exactly 358km from Abu Dhabi on rout you find ADNOC fuelling station at average every 50km, It may take 30min each at UAE & Saudi Emigaration & customs clearance.

On Saudi side on entry you find one or two petrol stations then there is 1 bunk every 100km for next 400kms then bunks are available every 10-20kms & even fuel is dam cheap.

Prefer to apply removable abrasive paint on front to avoide damage due to sand storms, it should be easily peeled off once your journey is complete.

It is more advisable to have a friend who can speak arabic & can assist you in driving,

Carry spare tyre, towing belt to pull out of sand dunes, AC overhauled, battery jump wires,

On an average food costs you around 10-15 rials max, UAE currency is readily accepted at every corner of Saudi, you can find many money exchanges in cities but are not proffasinally managed.

For SAFETY I would advise to enter Saudi during Day from UAE, as first strech of 300km road in 2way with no central dividers & lots of heavy trailers are hauling at good speed as there are no radar check on this streach.

For route map & Hotel check on www.map24.com web site.

Happy Journey my Friend,

Even pray for me,

J Patel