Re: Going for UMRAH in Own Car
Assalam Alaikum everybody.
First thanks to Hamid Bhai (Maddie) for his inputs and guidance while doing my first Umrah in Dec 2013. Based on my experience after doing 3 umrahs in 2014 (my favourite now), pls find below details for your reference.
Following is the Dua when you undertake a journey.
دعاء السفر : الله اكبر, الله اكبر, الله اكبر, سبحان الذي سخر لنا هذا وما كنا له مقرنين , وانا الى ربنا لمنقلبون , اللهم انا نسالك في سفرنا هذا البر والتقوى , ومن العمل ما ترضى, اللهم هون علينا سفرنا هذا , واطوا عنا بعده ,اللهم انت الصاحب في السفر , والخليفه في الاهل ,اللهم اني اعوذ بك من وعثاء السفر , وكآبة المنظر ,وسوء المنقلب في المال والاهل
1- You have to apply for Umra Visa from a Haj and Umra Agent – I use Rashid Jassim Umra Travel in Sharjah 06 5632757 055 7537154 Ali Akbar Tunio.
Documents needed: Original Passport, 2 photos white background, UAE ID, NOC from Sponsor , Vaccination Card and Hotel Booking in Mecca/Madinah.
2- Vehicle – If you are registered In Abu Dhabi and Dubai – you will need a Carnet Du Passage (trip ticket) from the Automobile and Touring Club. In Dubai its as follows – EMSF Dubai Building – From Almulla Plaza towards Century Mall, first signal, turn right, it will be on your left. it’s a traditional looking sand brown building – access from the side.
Documents needed: Original Registration card (Mulkia), Driving License, UAE ID, Passport Copy, NOC from Bank (if vehicle is mortgaged). Fees (Payable in Cash): 500 deposit (refunded after your return via cheque AFTER you hand over the carnet), 300 for the Carnet (no one ever looks for it), 80 for the Tourism Certificate.
3- Route: Dubai – Shahamah – Mafraq – Tarif – Sila – Ghuweifat 460 kms. Fillup from home, again at ADNOC after 230 kms (Good point for taking a ten minute break for the children). next fillup will be in Saudi.
4- Enter UAE Border, Handover Mulkiya, Drivers License and Tourism Certificate for the Customs Paper (check you have all your papers including the slip from Customs). Move on and park to the right. Take all your passports, the customs slip, and 35 Dirhams each as exit fees and enter the Immigrations Building to get the passports stamped.
HERE, IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE ONE OF THE KIDS WITH YOU SO THAT YOU DONT JOIN THE TRUCK DRIVERS LINE. FAMILIES ALWAYS HAVE A SEPERATE LINE.
EASY PART ENDED
UAE Border is Ghuweifat _ Saudi Border is Batha
FRUSTRATING PART BEGINS
5- Enter Saudi Border – park and enter the Huge Building on your right MEN ONLY, take all the passports and go to the Officer. As you notice him greet him but don’t expect response. He will ask you to wait. Again good idea is to take your kids and better half and make them sit with you. This will help a bit and you will be served bit quicker. The officer will stamp the passports and return you.
6- After this Move on to the Checking bay – then Insurance at 70 Dirhams a week, 100 for a fortnight and 150 for a month.
7- Three pumps on your right, SASCO (recommended for fuel and Night Rest- food is crappy), next Alsahab (recommended for food and Night Rest – Fuel is most probably contaminated from the ancient tanks), NEW pump (PREFERRED FOR FUEL). Here, you can exchange money too but it will be AED=SAR=QAR. 1 Oman Riyal = 10 SAR
NOW, you have two choices to Riyadh:
1- Distance 520 Kms Batha-Haradh-Alkharj-Riyadh – Single lane for first 100kms only. Straight road after that with no radar (camera) and a rough stretch. I have done this route even at Night and don’t see any risk as you can expect few cars and Trucks. Generally NOT RECOMMENDED AT NIGHT if you are not a frequent Traveller by Car. Refuel at Pump on your right after 200 kms.
Route: Once you Reach Al Kharj Round about, turn right (as per GPS first exit) on your right. Follow signs.
2- Distance 610 Kms Batha-Salwa-Hofuf-Riyadh – Double lane road. Refuel in Hofuf. Then, once you join the highway to Riyadh
Route: straight from border toward Salwa R/A (Qatar Border here). Left from R/A – follow signs to Hofuf then to Riyadh.
This is basically highway route from Dammam to Riyadh and you will meet crazy drivers cruising at 240 or 260 easily with high Traffic.
My suggestion will be route 1 from Border to Riyadh.
3- Makkah Al Mukarramah Via Taif is 810Kms approximately from Riyadh. Straight road with lot of stop over for fueling and food. Will be relaxing drive as it is straight road from Riyadh to Taif.
4- Madinah Al Munawwarah is about the same distance. Look for signs – if lost, stop any Police Patrol and ask for directions – Don’t follow other people’s cars. on this route, from Riyadh to Medinah – the petrol pumps are not always on the highway itself.
Golden Rule – never go more than half empty. Carry some fuel with you, even if a gallon only.
You can go to Madeena and then come to Mecca or vice versa. Better will be to Mecca first and then to Madeena.
Mecca to Madeena is about 3 or 4 hours drive. It is a straight road and a relaxing drive with scenery of mountains.
1- Fajr is to prayed on time, Two Rakahs.
2- Dhuhr and Asr are two Rakahs each – with Niyah of Qasr (Shortening).
3- Maghrib is Three Rakahs and Isha is Two Rakah and Witr.
Depending on your Madhab (Hanafi, Shafai, Maliki, Hanbali), you can either pray Dhuhr / Asr together at either one’s time and Maghrib / Isha together at either one’s time or seperately (you can time it with fuel stops).
TIME AND SPEED:
Calculate one hour for every 100 kms, including breaks and prayer stops.
Average speed of 130 kms – Dubai to border , border clearance, prayer stops, one six hour night stop min , wearing Ihraam in Taif and reaching Makkah will take 24 hours.
General Tips:
1- Many fuel pumps don’t accept UAE currency on the way, carry at least a few hundred Saudi Riyals. You can exchange this at any supermarket or petrol bunk at border.
2- Saudi SIM Cards are now given against Personal ID and are not very easy to procure. So you can activate Umrah roaming package in your local mobiles
3- Don’t leave valuables in your car even your GPS.
4- Don’t park in no parking zones – the car will be literally dragged away with a lot of damage to front part.
5- Carry Pain relievers and medicines as required for you and children.
6. Carry additional key for the Car and Keep it safe.
7- Don’t let the car running unattended.
8. Parking in Mecca: Parking in Mecca is always an issue and can get into trouble very easily due to negligent and rash driving/parking of locals there. It is always better to leave you car in the hotel and travel by taxi to Al Haram masjid or locally as it is very cheap. It will cost only 10 Riyals (10 Dirhams) in a separate taxi for a distance of about 3 kms.
9. Hotels in Mecca: It is always advisable to take Hotel little far away from Al Haram Al Shareef say a distance of 1 to 3 kms, park your car safely there and go to Masjid by Taxi. I stayed in a hotel called MIRA MAABDA HOTEL which is present on the main road itself of King Fahad Road. Their charge was 150 Riyals per day for 3 bed and its very clean hotel. The staff were friendly, helpful and most important can speak Malayalam, Hindi, Urdu, English, Arabic, Tamil etc.They have parking in front of the hotel and the staff take care of your car too. One Good Thing is Next to the hotel there is supermarket, pharmacy and a restaurant Shawaya House where you can get all varieties of food.
MIRA MAABDA HOTEL: HAMZA/ABU SAIF TEL: +966 2 5738090 EMAIL: [email protected]
4. ZumZum Water: This Holy Zum Zum water is available in all hotels, packed and ready for travel at cost of 15 Riyals per 10 Litre bottle. What I did was purchased Zum Zum water of 20 litre Can (2 Pieces) filled near Mosque from a bangladeshi shop at a price of 25 Riyals per Can and carried in my car properly securing and lashing. There are empty cans sold too in those local shops. So you have the option of purchasing empty can and fill up by yourself or to buy filled cans at masjid
5. Parking in Madinah: parking in madinah is not an issue as there are plenty of parkings available. My experience was from Makkah went to Al Haram Masjid. After finishing my formalities over there hired a local taxi driver who then took us to all places such Al Nawaz Al Shareef masjid, Masjid Qiblatein, Place of War etc. at a cost of 50 Riyals. These places are pretty simple to find and easily available in any Garmin GPS. Hence one can drive to these places by himself or opt to hire a local driver. Important thing to note Men are allowed 24hrs a day for visit Jannat Al firdous but for women there is time restrictions. Best time is 5 to 10mrng and evening 9 to 12pm.
Hope the above helps you a bit. If you need any information, you may pls call me in +971 56 686 2453 or +971 55 5368 747
