Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
'Red Tape'
The countries of the Middle East seem to have a passion for bureaucracy and have large
public sectors in place to administer it. For the expat this entails various paperchases to en-
sure having the right permissions in place to work, own and drive a car, purchase alcohol
and, in the case of Saudi, travel around the country. This isn't as daunting as it sounds as
every company will have a fixer whose job it is to steer the employee over each bureaucrat-
ic hurdle. Note that for most countries in the region you need to test negative for AIDS and
tuberculosis before you gain a residency permit; this is treated as a routine and perfunctory
part of the visa-obtaining process.
You can speed up the obtaining of various permits by having a stock of passport-size
photographs, some on plain white, and some on plain blue backgrounds; multiple copies of
an abbreviated CV (two pages maximum); copies of your tertiary qualifications and the ori-
ginal certificates attested by your embassy at the ready.
Take a number on entering queuing stations, carry a book to read, be patient and stay
friendly and polite even when at your wit's end. When at length you get your residency
card, driving licence or travel permit, carry it with you at all times - this is the law in most
Peninsula countries.
Many countries will permit some nationalities to drive on a license from home. Other na-
tionalities must pass the local driving test. Check with your embassy or HR manager.
