GCC MEETING RIYADH 2022 is also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salam Al Saud, Oman’s Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said and other Gulf leaders at King Abdul Aziz International Convention Centre on December 9, 2022. This is during the GCC Meeting Riyadh 2022. Despite the attendance of the Chinese President Continue readingGCC MEETING RIYADH 2022 is also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping

World Travel Market (WTM) London 2021 ExCeL London from November 1 to 3

This week London has been hosting the World Travel Market (WTM) at ExCeL London from November 1 to 3 . Incidentally ExCeL , owned by Abu Dhabi was a centre for overflow Covid hospitalisations in London.

Abu Dhabi at WTM London
Abu Dhabi at WTM London

The theme of the event was ‘reconnect, rebuild’ Continue readingWorld Travel Market (WTM) London 2021 ExCeL London from November 1 to 3

Touring the UAE with a group

I enjoyed touring the UAE with a group, seeing some of the old and new that the country has to offer.

We first took an Abra, from Radisson Blu Hotel on the creek, to the old suq in Bur Dubai which is full of interest and colour.

Shop - Bur Dubai - UAE
Shop – Bur Dubai – UAE

The walk allowed the group to get a taste of Continue readingTouring the UAE with a group

Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi a spectacular building to enhance your visit to Abu Dhabi

Qasr Al Watan (Palace of the Nation) in Abu Dhabi is open to the public. Check below for a Dress Code, Map, Information, Video and great Photographs.

Aerial view of Qasr Al Watan courtesy Ministry of Presidential Affairs UAE
Aerial view of Qasr Al Watan courtesy Ministry of Presidential Affairs UAE

Continue readingQasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi a spectacular building to enhance your visit to Abu Dhabi

BUS FROM DUBAI TO MUSCAT revised options from Mwasalat

The Mwasalat Bus  from Dubai to Muscat now has a couple of extra pick-up points in Dubai, making travel even easier. Here are details of the Three locations you can get your Mwasalat Bus from in Dubai, with Map and timings.

The timings are from the main terminus at Continue readingBUS FROM DUBAI TO MUSCAT revised options from Mwasalat

Arabia at the London Book Fair 2018

Tulips under a male Date Palm, just off Kensington High Street in London,

Date Palm - London
Date Palm – London

set the tone for a mix of Continue reading “Arabia at the London Book Fair 2018”

UAE AND OMAN BORDER crossing how to travel into Oman from the UAE - with maps below

The UAE AND OMAN BORDER crossing gives 7 options between the two countries.
Below I detail them –  in Musandam, Al Batinah (for Muscat) & Al Buraymi (for Nizwa, Ash Sharquiyah & Dhofar). I also give information for Oman Visa, Bus information, Insurance needed for Oman and British Embassy Oman Travel page.

OMAN EDITION 5 NEW
OMAN EDITION 5 NEW


My updated Bradt’s 5th guide to Oman 2022 has completely rewritten regional chapters and maps. These cover Oman from the tip of Musandam’s peninsula, through to the hotels near the border with Yemen. Available from June 2022 at most online book stores incl Bradt and Amazon. (my earlier 4th Edition of the guide is still available at Bradt and Amazon)

Here are both of the Oman UAE Border Crossings in Musandam below – with Maps.

The crossing from Ras Al Khaymah for Khasab. This is accessed using the Emirates Road (E611) and driving through Ras Al Khaymah to link with E11 , or take E11 from Sharjah. After exiting from the UAE the Oman border is very close & the road to Khasab dramatically hugs the coast.

The crossing at Dibba can be a bit confusing as there are two, 1 for GCC nationals only. The one for all non-GCC nationals is on the coast, taking route E87 from Ras Al Khaymah and then drive through Dibba.

 

Here are both of the Oman UAE Border Crossings on Oman’s Batinah coast. One from from Sharjah and another from Dubai – with Maps.

Crossing from Sharjah south of Fujarah at Kalba can be accessed via routes E102 & E84, then turn south to Kalba. Both border posts are close to each other. The Oman road south is in good condition.

The crossing from Dubai at Hatta through Al Wajajah means driving out of Dubai or Sharjah and take route E102 from Al Aweer to Hatta. The UAE exit is about 10km away from the new Oman border post. There are refreshments in the Oman border post & toilets etc. The road into Muscat is in good condition.

I list all 3 of the Oman UAE Border Crossings in Al Ain below – with Maps. 

Al Buraymi Gate
Al Buraymi Gate

The Sa’ara border point in Al Al Buraymi is now open for Omanis and expats, making it easier to travel to the UAE from Oman.

“Both Omanis and expats planning a trip to the UAE can use this new border point, which was opened on Tuesday,” said a Royal Oman Police (ROP) official in Times of Oman and quoted at length by the Khaleej Times in the UAE.

The Royal Oman Police have also announced the opening on Twitter.

With this announcement about the Sa’ara border point in Al Buraymi  (corresponding to Hilli in Al Ain UAE) there are 3 locations to cross between Oman & the UAE at Al Buraymi.

As you are visiting Oman – check out all my Blog Posts – on the top right. they take you throughout the country.

Here are all 3 of the Oman UAE Border Crossings from Abu Dhabi or Dubai at Al Ayn / Al Buraymi – with Maps and comments.

The Mezayad crossing through Al Buraymi / Al Ain is ideal to use if you intend to travel from Abu Dhabi & Dubai to Nizwa, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Wihaba Sands and down to Salalah (all covered in my guidebook available from Kinokuniya Dubai and worldwide  Bradt Guide to Oman and my guide to The Land of Frankincense covers historic sites in Salalah and Dhofar).

For Muscat and the Al Batinah regions of Oman the Dubai Hatta border (above) or Khatm Al Shikla (below) are used.

Below is the Sa’ara/Hilli border.

The Sa’ara/Hilli border is ideal to use simply to move in and out of Al Buraymi and Al Ain. If you want to go onto Suhar then you will also pass through another Oman border post at Wadi Al Jizzi.

Below is Khatm Al Shikla (Shakla/Shiklah ) which is paired with Wadi Saa or Wadi Al Jizzi.

Khatm Al Shikla leads to either Wadi Saa (the right turn after the UAE emigration), that is really little used and not suggested, or Wadi Al Jizzi (left fork and about 20mins farther on) that is by far the more used route.

Below is Mezyad in the UAE which is paired with Hafeet in Oman.

Although out of town these two immigration/ emigrations are the principal crossing points with excellent facilities and capacity for numerous vehicles, making the crossing quicker. As said earlier this route is ideal for Nizwa and Salalah. They are ideal to use as the staff in them are used to any type of crossing issue (passport, period of time, language etc) and the offices are very unlikely to close for administrative reasons. It is the one preferred by the UAE authorities.
The distance between the UAE border and Oman border offices at Mezyad – Hafeet is about 1500meters.

As always things may change and it is always advisable to check with the authorities to get information about the situation when you plan to travel.

Explore The Land of Frankincense with my book which is available as a paperback through Amazon worldwide  If you are in the UK – a full colour interior version is available here.

Check out some of my other posts on Dhofar – all the way back to 2006

For a broader perspective of Dhofar and the rest of Oman use my rewrite of the Oman Guide Book for Bradt available in paperback  worldwide here

OMAN EDITION 5 NEW
OMAN EDITION 5 NEW

 

For more information on bus from Dubai to Oman click here or  use the search box on the upper right of this page – or just for Taxi click here.

For Visa requirements, I suggest that you carefully review the impact of the new Visa Application procedure for Oman announced by the Oman Government.

You will also want to review your insurance for Oman and new government policies on the horizon. Also ensure your vehicle is permitted to cross out of the UAE.

Note should also be taken about travel advice from your own foreign ministry – I use the British Foreign Office.

To link from Al Ain into Dubai there is a fast highway at the north-east of Al Ain with 3 lanes in either direction.

Insurance for vehicles remains as before and covered on page 57 of the Bradt Guide to Oman.

When exiting from the UAE make certain you can pay the AED35 charge to the emigration authority.

Omans Salam Air to start Dubai flights

Oman’s Salam Air will be commencing flights to Dubai

Salam Air Salalah
Salam Air Salalah

on the last day of February 2017. There will initially be 2 flights in either direction at initial published prices from Rial Omani 21.600 one way (check for lower promotional pricing). Salam Air will be one Continue reading “Omans Salam Air to start Dubai flights”

Zodiacs onto Sir Bani Yas

The Zodiacs of the Clipper Odyssey (now renamed Silver Discoverer) ably lead by John Yersin came in handy to get us onto Sir bani Yas .

John and the Clipper Odyssey off Sir bani Yas
John and the Clipper Odyssey off Sir bani Yas

Once on the island I joined other Continue reading “Zodiacs onto Sir Bani Yas”

Cruise to Dubai and Sir Bani Yas

via Sir bani Yas

The island of Sir bani Yas was to be the next destination of the Island Sky.

Sir Bani Yas animals
Sir Bani Yas animals

Here not only did we have a wonderful animal safari but also a superb lunch in the new hotel. Finally we arrived in Dubai as the sun rose to illuminate Continue reading “Cruise to Dubai and Sir Bani Yas”

Abu Dhabi and Wilfred Thesiger

in a gallery in Al Ain

It was interesting to visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi and Wilfred Thesiger exhibition in Al Ain on a trip from Oman.

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is a remarkable contrast in most respects to the superlative Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque’s exterior is a brilliant white –its interior, in contrast,  is an equally brilliant poly-chrome .  The carpet uses the same company that was previously used for the carpet in the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, not surprising as the Oman organisers completely re-organised their carpet production work-flow. Although completely different in design, the chandelier is from Faustig who supplied the magnificent ones for the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Almost overflowing with floral designs, the mosque sits opposite Continue reading “Abu Dhabi and Wilfred Thesiger”