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How To Drive From Dubai To Qatar For The FIFA World Cup 2022
FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar – It’s just down the road!
With football fever mounting, people who have been lucky enough to nab tickets are now thinking, ‘next steps.’ To travel from the UAE to Qatar, you can take a plane, but with flight prices sky-rocketing, what are the alternatives?
Eh, DRIVE!
Lovin sent two willing Lovin crew, Shahir and Ali Baba, to roadtest the journey… so you don’t have to and the consensus was it’s a lot easier and quicker than you might think.
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Lovin Travels… Thailand!Now, they’re ready and willing to answer any and all of your questions about the journey of a lifetime. They drove a nifty Volkswagen Golf R and got there and back in 2 days.
Here’s what you need to know about driving to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup
The documents you need to get to the border
Download and print fam and save yourself the hassle at the border!
- Carnet De Passage: A document issued by Automobile & Touring Club. A passport for your car or motorbike, cross borders and custom clearance without problems – Get it here
- Tourism certificate: Issued by the RTA, it’s a certificate that allows you to use your car outside of the UAE for tourism purposes. Get it here
- Not your car? If you’re NOT the car owners, you’ll need a Mortgage Release – This service enables you to apply for a clearance certificate indicating that the vehicle does not have any restrictions (mortgage) or traffic fines when issuing this certificate – Get it here
- Passage through Saudi: GCC residents do not need a visa to travel through Saudi. For all other countries, see here
Once you reach the border, you’ll need to acquire a car insurance certificate too, price deets below.
At the border
Qatar is accessible via the Abu Samra land border crossing with Saudi Arabia. Leave your car at the border (Saudi side) – From there you can take a free shuttle bus into central Doha.
*Public transport within Doha is highly recommended.
All motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road. Traffic signs are bilingual, in English and Arabic. Driving without a licence is a criminal offence.
Driving with a non-Qatari licence – You can rent a car if you are 25 and above,and have held a valid driving licence for at least 12 months. Please be aware that the availability of hire cars is likely to be low due to demand.
Driving with the licence of your home country – Visit or business visa holders can drive for up to 15 days from the date of entry. You need to apply for a temporary Qatar driving licence to extend this.
Driving with a GCC licence – GCC residents can drive for up to three months from the date of entry into the State of Qatar.
Driving with an international licence – Visit or business visa holders can drive for up to six months from the date of entry into the State of Qatar.
Via Getting To Qatar
Shahir and Ali were willing guinea pigs and got the chance to drive a slick Volkswagen Golf R
0-100 in 4.8 seconds with a B-E-A-utiful exhaust purr, created by Slovenian exhaust systems, Akrapovič. This high performer has torque vectoring, developed by Volkswagen’s engineers to ensure the power is distributed in the most effective way. So it’s a brand new 4MOTION all-wheel drive system giving you confidence on the roads, especially if you’re travelling between countries.
Y’all might need a visa!
Citizens of over 95 countries are eligible for visa-free entry into Qatar. Allowable lengths of stay vary, and visitors are kindly advised to check with an authorised entity for the terms and conditions that apply.
Check your eligibility here.
But mind you, you’ll need to have a ticket to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to be accepted!
Shahir says: Be prepped with your docs!
A road trip was much needed, especially since I haven’t been on one in aaages. And this experience was honestly next level!What made this journey exceptional, was uninterrupted chill vibes and peace of mind thanks to the Volkswagen Golf R.The 7-hour journey (approx!) flew by. We literally had one stop at a gas station to refill the tank, and of course… a snack restock!
“Passing the border took no more than 15 mins at each stop”
Crazy right? One thing to keep in mind; make sure you’ve got all the docs you need to pass the border. Once sorted, you’re good to go! I’ll always advocate for a good ’ol road trip. But my advice to you is to approach any trip with proactivity. Preparation is a must!Make sure you’re stocked up on snacks, water, and a playlist that’s going to keep the vibes going throughout the journey. Next stop? The World Cup. Come on Argentina!
(sorry Germany! Love the car though)
The costs you need to factor in
- Carnet and Tourism Certificate Fees: USD 346
- Adding a driver’s name on Carnet if needed (we did!): USD 100.00
- Service Fees: USD 42.37 (AED155.63)
- Insurance fees: In Qatar – AED150 / In Saudi – AED139
Total: USD529.21 or AED1944 (approximately)
Disclaimer: The prices may vary so check beforehand.
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