Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dubai grew as a city by attracting and entertaining stop over travellers between Europe and Asia and as such it has
made an art out of the stopover market. Airlines support this continuing trend by offering 'stop over packages' which in-
clude hotel accommodation, airport transfers and a short tour, all for a very reasonable price.
Land
Border Crossings
Border crossings between Oman, Yemen and Saudi are closed. The most usable crossings are between Oman and UAE.
These may take anything from 30 minutes to more than two hours. Showing patience, politeness and good humour is
likely to speed up the process and it also helps to have a pen!
If you are travelling independently overland to the Middle East, you can only approach the region from Jordan into
Saudi Arabia - but gaining a Saudi visa is a major hurdle.
Bus
The only bus routes entering the region are from Jordan through the Al-Umari border crossing, south of Azraq, Ad-
Durra, south of Aqaba, and Al-Mudawwara, east of Aqaba. Services link Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam with Aqaba and
Amman.
Jordan Express Tourist Transport
(JETT; 00962 6585 4679;
www.jett.com.jo
)
The Jordanian national bus com-
pany has a reliable website and runs air-conditioned, modern coaches.
Car & Motorcycle
The following documents are required if you are hoping to enter the region with your own transport:
Green Card
Issued by insurers. Insurance for some countries is only obtainable at the border.
International Driving Permit (IDP)
Compulsory for foreign drivers and motorcyclists in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Most foreign licences are acceptable in the other Peninsula countries, but even in these places an IDP is recommended.
Vehicle Registration Documents
Check with your insurer whether you're covered for the countries you intend to visit
and whether third-party cover is included.
AAA
(
www.aaauae.com
) The Arabian Automobile Association can provide advice on documentation.
Sea
Cargo boats call erratically at Aden, Muscat and Jeddah on their way to Europe and Asia. Getting aboard is mostly a
question of luck and being in the right place at the right time. Your passage may well be dependent upon the whim of the
captain. Ask at the port of departure to see what boats are headed where. Some offer comfortable passenger cabins (in-
tended for crew family); for others you may need to come equipped with food, drink and bedding.
Cruise ships dock in a number of ports in the Peninsula, including Dubai, Muscat and Salalah.
Several ferry services operate to/from the Peninsula but they are not geared up for tourists. If you're in for an adven-
ture then bear the following in mind:
»
In summer, conditions may be impossibly hot, especially in deck class.
»
Many passengers prefer to take their own food rather than rely on that served on board.
