al dente

Interesting....

Expats not allowed on Oman E44 | GulfNews.com

Meow

That's been the case for a couple of months now due to that off bit of Oman in the UAE. Easy enough to get to Hatta though as you just go a different route that takes 20 minutes longer.

al dente

Did you see the bit about only being allowed on with a booking at The Golden Tulip, Chediston or dhow trip?

Millhouse

You also cannot get to the Hatta pools.

Tockalosh

Anyone know why they have done this ?

Autonomy

Indeed and linked - no idea, but has the Wadi Bih route been open for the last 5 years or more? I'd love to drive that again.

hnd

Sort of makes sense ... previously you could leave one sovereign state (UAE), enter another (Oman), leave the second and re-enter the first all without passing through any official passport control. Theoretically one could leave the UAE and enter Oman without anyone being any the wiser (this was certainly the case before the check points were introduced some years' ago) and I guess this isn't something which anyone would be particularly happy about nowadays

Tockalosh

Thank you for the answer

jam25mack

That's up at the Dibba border post and has been the case for a few years now. Gone are the days of flashing a drivers licence or labour card. It caused havoc with the Wadi Bih run a year or two back as no one could cross even though they said it would be open for the event. Also all the Dhow operators and fishermen are raging as they're losing loads of business. There are ways to get a letter though, call the Golden Tulip and they will point you in the right direction.

al dente

Installing a passport control is understandable. This doesn't apply to GCC though. Are westerners the target or are looking across the water?

A friend who was with marine reinsurance here told me of often finding clothes as people came and changed into their 'dubai ' outfit in the mountains to fit in. A lot of people are smuggled into Oman, being told it is the UAE. Apparently there is a rock where someone has written Dubai take them believe it.

jam25mack

Its more the fact that even if you have the correct documentation its a complete ball ache. There is more to it than just getting a process in place.

I don't doubt the smuggling people in / out bit. I saw this first hand on the other side of Wadi Bih, on the top of Jebel Al Jais about 7 years ago. I was the geologist on that road so know it well. About 2/3 of the way up there is an overlook down to where the cement factory is in Al Rams. Anyway, one day I was up there kicking rocks and this cop car pulled up. They had been tipped off about 3 Chinese chaps who were climbing up (very very nasty terrain - super steep and very loose). Eventually 2 of the 3 got to the top where they were greeted by the Po Po's. One of the chaps had fallen and died on the way up.

OriginalSunshine

Lots of smuggling from Iran toOman, and vice versa. Carpets in, washing machines out.
Through UAE and back into Oman again. Everyone benefitted (and the carpets cost about 1/4 of what you would pay in West).

Oman is very worried about people. About UAE caused instability. About Yemen. About internal politics ith the Sultan ill. Their databases for foreigners are only in certain locations. Reducing the number of borders makes it easier to control.