Travel questions for Riyadh & Abu Dhabi
Jan 11th 2011, 1:18 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 20
Travel questions for Riyadh & Abu Dhabi
Hi All
Have my 1st trip out to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi next week and have some questions that couldn't find answers to elsewhere. Hope you can help
1. Have tickets for separate jouneys vs return ticket. Is this likely to be a problem in Saudi? Ticket 1 is London - Riyadh, 2 is Riyadh - Abu Dhabi, 3 is Abu Dhabi to London.
2. Laptop. Nothing on it that shouldn't be there, but was hoping to load a couple of movies to watch on flights. Will Saudi customs take it for hours to check "clean" and should I factor this time into my travel schedule?
3. Power. Read that UK 3 pin 240v in most places. Is this case in both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi or wouldI be better with European 2 pin?
4. Toiletries. Normally I carry these in overhead bag but read should be in checked luggage. Is this case? [Assume aftershave ok]
5. Business attire. Mainly suit and tie in my line of work. Would business casual (suit without the tie!) be considered too casual for the office (not with customers)?
6. Gifts. Would a small gift (UK football Tshirt) be ok to give my arab host? Assume it's more normal to give at end of trip rather than at introduction.
Many Thanks
Mike
Have my 1st trip out to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi next week and have some questions that couldn't find answers to elsewhere. Hope you can help
1. Have tickets for separate jouneys vs return ticket. Is this likely to be a problem in Saudi? Ticket 1 is London - Riyadh, 2 is Riyadh - Abu Dhabi, 3 is Abu Dhabi to London.
2. Laptop. Nothing on it that shouldn't be there, but was hoping to load a couple of movies to watch on flights. Will Saudi customs take it for hours to check "clean" and should I factor this time into my travel schedule?
3. Power. Read that UK 3 pin 240v in most places. Is this case in both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi or wouldI be better with European 2 pin?
4. Toiletries. Normally I carry these in overhead bag but read should be in checked luggage. Is this case? [Assume aftershave ok]
5. Business attire. Mainly suit and tie in my line of work. Would business casual (suit without the tie!) be considered too casual for the office (not with customers)?
6. Gifts. Would a small gift (UK football Tshirt) be ok to give my arab host? Assume it's more normal to give at end of trip rather than at introduction.
Many Thanks
Mike
Jan 11th 2011, 1:29 pm
#2
Concierge
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29,625
Re: Travel questions for Riyadh & Abu Dhabi
Hi All
Have my 1st trip out to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi next week and have some questions that couldn't find answers to elsewhere. Hope you can help
1. Have tickets for separate jouneys vs return ticket. Is this likely to be a problem in Saudi? Ticket 1 is London - Riyadh, 2 is Riyadh - Abu Dhabi, 3 is Abu Dhabi to London.
2. Laptop. Nothing on it that shouldn't be there, but was hoping to load a couple of movies to watch on flights. Will Saudi customs take it for hours to check "clean" and should I factor this time into my travel schedule?
3. Power. Read that UK 3 pin 240v in most places. Is this case in both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi or wouldI be better with European 2 pin?
4. Toiletries. Normally I carry these in overhead bag but read should be in checked luggage. Is this case? [Assume aftershave ok]
5. Business attire. Mainly suit and tie in my line of work. Would business casual (suit without the tie!) be considered too casual for the office (not with customers)?
6. Gifts. Would a small gift (UK football Tshirt) be ok to give my arab host? Assume it's more normal to give at end of trip rather than at introduction.
Many Thanks
Mike
Have my 1st trip out to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi next week and have some questions that couldn't find answers to elsewhere. Hope you can help
1. Have tickets for separate jouneys vs return ticket. Is this likely to be a problem in Saudi? Ticket 1 is London - Riyadh, 2 is Riyadh - Abu Dhabi, 3 is Abu Dhabi to London.
2. Laptop. Nothing on it that shouldn't be there, but was hoping to load a couple of movies to watch on flights. Will Saudi customs take it for hours to check "clean" and should I factor this time into my travel schedule?
3. Power. Read that UK 3 pin 240v in most places. Is this case in both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi or wouldI be better with European 2 pin?
4. Toiletries. Normally I carry these in overhead bag but read should be in checked luggage. Is this case? [Assume aftershave ok]
5. Business attire. Mainly suit and tie in my line of work. Would business casual (suit without the tie!) be considered too casual for the office (not with customers)?
6. Gifts. Would a small gift (UK football Tshirt) be ok to give my arab host? Assume it's more normal to give at end of trip rather than at introduction.
Many Thanks
Mike
Jan 11th 2011, 1:39 pm
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 20
Re: Travel questions for Riyadh & Abu Dhabi
It won't have any black'n'white stripes sorry 
It'll be United or City, but leaning towards City as they're sponsored by Etihad!
It'll be United or City, but leaning towards City as they're sponsored by Etihad!
Jan 11th 2011, 2:09 pm
#5
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 754
Re: Travel questions for Riyadh & Abu Dhabi
Hi All
Have my 1st trip out to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi next week and have some questions that couldn't find answers to elsewhere. Hope you can help
1. Have tickets for separate jouneys vs return ticket. Is this likely to be a problem in Saudi? Ticket 1 is London - Riyadh, 2 is Riyadh - Abu Dhabi, 3 is Abu Dhabi to London.
No
2. Laptop. Nothing on it that shouldn't be there, but was hoping to load a couple of movies to watch on flights. Will Saudi customs take it for hours to check "clean" and should I factor this time into my travel schedule?
stocked to the gills with porn ?
3. Power. Read that UK 3 pin 240v in most places. Is this case in both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi or wouldI be better with European 2 pin?
Riyadh has every style of plug you can imagine, both 110 and 220 bring a travel adaptor
4. Toiletries. Normally I carry these in overhead bag but read should be in checked luggage. Is this case? [Assume aftershave ok] same as all flights no liquids over 100ml in carry on luggage
5. Business attire. Mainly suit and tie in my line of work. Would business casual (suit without the tie!) be considered too casual for the office (not with customers)?
depending on your line of work, without tie is usually the normal
6. Gifts. Would a small gift (UK football Tshirt) be ok to give my arab host? Assume it's more normal to give at end of trip rather than at introduction.
Give it at the start, football shirt sound funny unless you know they follow football. or a big bottle of whiskey
Many Thanks
Mike
Have my 1st trip out to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi next week and have some questions that couldn't find answers to elsewhere. Hope you can help
1. Have tickets for separate jouneys vs return ticket. Is this likely to be a problem in Saudi? Ticket 1 is London - Riyadh, 2 is Riyadh - Abu Dhabi, 3 is Abu Dhabi to London.
No
2. Laptop. Nothing on it that shouldn't be there, but was hoping to load a couple of movies to watch on flights. Will Saudi customs take it for hours to check "clean" and should I factor this time into my travel schedule?
stocked to the gills with porn ?
3. Power. Read that UK 3 pin 240v in most places. Is this case in both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi or wouldI be better with European 2 pin?
Riyadh has every style of plug you can imagine, both 110 and 220 bring a travel adaptor
4. Toiletries. Normally I carry these in overhead bag but read should be in checked luggage. Is this case? [Assume aftershave ok] same as all flights no liquids over 100ml in carry on luggage
5. Business attire. Mainly suit and tie in my line of work. Would business casual (suit without the tie!) be considered too casual for the office (not with customers)?
depending on your line of work, without tie is usually the normal
6. Gifts. Would a small gift (UK football Tshirt) be ok to give my arab host? Assume it's more normal to give at end of trip rather than at introduction.
Give it at the start, football shirt sound funny unless you know they follow football. or a big bottle of whiskey
Many Thanks
Mike
just kidding about the whiskey
Jan 11th 2011, 4:06 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 1,172
Re: Travel questions for Riyadh & Abu Dhabi
Depends on your office.
Jan 12th 2011, 7:41 am
#7
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 20
Re: Travel questions for Riyadh & Abu Dhabi
Many thanks all for the replies, very helpful Cheers Mike
Cheers Mike
