Qatar Travel Forum

Hello all,

I will go 6 month for an internship in Qatar (as a woman student with another student from my univeristy). I had planed to travel in the countries around Qatar (Oman, UAE, Bahrain...) but I realised that to go from Qatar to other countries by road, it was required to go though Saudi Arabia. I've seen that it was possible to go by bus from Doha to Abu Dhabi but to do this a transit Visa through Saudi Arabia is required. Concerning this Visa, I've read that it was not possible for single woman (or with a male who are not a partner) to get this VISA. Is it true or did this rule change? (I'm French, but I don't think that the nationality is important to get this transit Visa as a single woman).

Thanx for your help especially if a single woman crossed this country recently.

xoxo

>Concerning this Visa, I've read that it was not possible for single woman (or >with a male who are not a partner) to get this VISA. Is it true or did this >rule change?

If you're under 30, then yes this is true, unless you are met and accompagnied around by a male business sponsor all the time.

>had planed to travel in the countries around Qatar (Oman, UAE, Bahrain...)

Unless you have your own car, you very likely won't get a transit visa allowing overland transport anyway. I.e. you'll have to fly from Qatar to other Gulf staes e.g. by the increasing number of budget airlines (Air Arabia, Bahrain Air etc.)

It's very easy and cheap to fly--Air Arabia goes to Sharjah, which is about a 45-minute drive from Dubai.

Thanx George and Travelmad for your advices.
I'm under 30 years old ...thus won't be able to cross the arabian border by myself. I've noticed that if I could make my colleague as a business sponsor (since we will be working for the same companie...), it could work.
Anyway, it seems to be far much easier to travel by plane (even if it is really more expensive especially because I will have my own car in Qatar and will be able to travel abroad with it).

>I'm under 30 years old ...thus won't be able to cross the arabian border by >myself. I've noticed that if I could make my colleague as a business sponsor
>(since we will be working for the same companie...), it could work.

Sorry - I should have been more specific. Actually that won't work - you need a Saudi Arabian citizen sponsor, i.e. your employer of your Saudi business partner.

>Anyway, it seems to be far much easier to travel by plane (even if it is >really more expensive especially because I will have my own car in Qatar and >will be able to travel abroad with it).

I agree. Ever since budget flights came to the ME, travel by plane has become a lot more convienent and in many case cheaper than overland travel by ferry/bus.

i was living in Saudi Arabia for a short time and i advise u, not to take the risk by road, they can easily return u back from the country u came from..
now Air arabia(Sharjah) n Ettihad airways (Abu Dhabi), also Jazeera airways now..and gulf air is still cheap..
all the best