Hi there,
I have been traveling several times from Oman to the UAE in taxis which is easy as in Oman all taxi drivers by law are Omanis, meaning that they can easily cross the border with no visa requirements.
However, no I will need to go the other way, i.e. from the UAE to Oman. In the UAE all the taxi drivers are foreigners mostly South Asians, meaning that they will require a visa to go to Oman.
Does anyone have any experience how that works? Is there a special rule allowing them to go to Oman or could they only take you as far as the border? Other solutions?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
aki2006
1
bri_guy
For full disclosure purposes, I have not actually done this myself (but have friends who have done so).
Most people tend to get a taxi to the border, walk across, and then get a taxi on the other side of the border once they get to Oman.
2
gemcap
Most people tend to get a taxi to the border, walk across, and then get a taxi on the other side of the border once they get to Oman.
Going through Hatta, this is not practical and I do not know of anyone who has done this. There is a fair distance between the UAE exit gate and the Oman entry gate and it is certainly not walkable - not even sure if they will let you walk that far.
The Buraimi entry gate is also not close to the UAE exit gate (near Al Ain) - and you will have to look for taxi drivers who can drive you into Buraimi. In Al Ain, you MAY find local taxi drivers or Omani taxi drivers who can do this. This is a big MAY. You have to get your exit stamp from Hafeet.
Is there any reason why you are not able to take a bus from Dubai? You can take a bus till Sohar and then take a taxi from there to Muscat / whereever should you so choose.
Edited by: gemcap to correct the entry reg Buraimi
3
DesertToJungle
I've never seen taxis hanging around the border crossings when I've been passing through.
Bus or fly or hire a car if you will be returning would be easier options. But I guess you have a good reason for using taxis.
Edited by: Kali737
4
bri_guy
Gemcap, I'm thinking about the Mezyad border. I've seen plenty of people walking it when I have passed through. I'm guessing it is about a twenty minute walk, and one could get a ride with someone else who is crossing the border at the time to shorten this to a minute or so by car.
I would certainly agree other transportation would be preferable but, if one had to use a taxi, this is the way that I would do it.
5
gemcap
:-) BG
By the "Buraimi entry gate", I meant the Mezyad border - think that's the new name. The UAE exit and Oman entry gates are much closer than at Hatta (probably under 2 km) but (1) not sure if the OP will be permitted to walk it (2) not sure if there are taxis at the Oman entry point.
I could be wrong though. We tend to take the Hatta route and have only gone through Buraimi a handful of times - all very early in the morning so as to beat the queues. Maybe the taxi guys were not up by then.
6
aki2006
Thanks everyone.
I have passed the Hatta border many times (the last time yesterday) and have never seen any taxis hanging out there. And it is definitely impossible to work across it. I tend to arrive late in the evening and then have to work the next morning so buses are not an option.
I guess I'll just do what I've been doing so far - get a cab from Sohar to drive to Dubai airport and wait there for me
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