Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Has anyone done, or know if you can drive from the UAE to Jordan, and back again as a non-muslim ? Fancy doing a 2 week round trip.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

If you can get the Saudi Transit visa, then UAE to KSA and then northwards to Jordan would be probably the easiest route. Am planning driving to Jordan ( and beyond ) when I do the Final Exit from KSA.

Loads of guys here in Riyadh drive regularly to Jordan and back. Being non muslim isn't an issue ( unless you insist in driving through Mecca - but that would be a hell of a detour)

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Hard to do the drive home with passing through Syria or Iraq :(

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

You could always take a ferry to Iran, then go through the Caucasus (E60 through Abkhazia), Crimea, and Ukraine.

HTH :)

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Iran does not easily give visas to citizens of UK or USA

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

What in the world does Iraq and Syria have to do with anything? The route passes through Saudi Arabia. Every Jordanian in the UAE has done it at some point or another. It is not a short trip and takes two days, stopping somewhere overnight in KSA. Egyptians also pass through, going the other way, though the numbers of them attempting to do so has been greatly reduced by the instability in the Sinai. Many are now choosing to fly back to Egypt and ship their cars.

Nor does being non-Muslim have anything to do with anything. That is only a restriction if you are going to visit Mecca or Medina.

The Saudis offer a seven-day transit visa to go from the UAE to Jordan, but willingness to issue it can be unpredictable. Be aware that the logjam of trucks at Sila can be enormous, and stretch for several kilometres with the associated delays.

If you are looking to do this trip by hire car, forget it. Due to unpredictable Saudi road rules, UAE hire car companies don't allow you to go into KSA. If it's your own vehicle, just make sure your papers are airtight.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

He is taling about drivinbg to Europe from KSA.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

OP explicitly said UAE to Jordan and back.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Scot47 and I were referencing this detour from the original question:

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

we intend to drive back when it's time for us to pack up and go. planning via Iran if it's safe when the time comes, or go through KSA/Egypt and then ferry into Turkey. I'm guessing there is a Jordan - Cyprus - Turkey option aswell.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Thank you Pulaski / scot47 for the correction.

Simple. Israel-Cyprus-Greece ferries have re-started. You can go by land from Jordan across the West Bank and into Israel. I think the ferry leaves from Haifa.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

The Haifa route is the one we're planning on taking, spoke to an Irish lad who did it list summer from KSA , so it's all do-able. Ferry to mainland Greece and then onwards from there. Current contract runs out end of April, so if it's not renewed, then will probably do the journey in June. If I get another year, then its deffo on for next summer.

I did seriously want to do the Iran Turkey route ( via ferry from Sharjah ) but Iran insists on a tour guide accompanying you at all times, which put me off. Bollocks to that.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Check up on the accuracy of that. Every year scores of Brits take the southern 'route' on the Mongal Rally which passes through Iran and from what I've read few if any have a tour guide.... so there must be ways round it. I'd suggest searching for 'The Adventurists' or 'Mongal Rally' on facebook for groups and ask the question there. There will be scores of folks who can assist you as they've done similar recently.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

All the 'official' documentation I've looked at so far, is pretty consistent. For three nationalities - US, Canadian, UK - every visitor must be accompanied by a tour guide at all times. Spoke to a couple of tour guides, who confirm this was true ( slightly cynical about this). Messaged a few other people on Trip Advisor Forums ( also slightly unreliable ) , but from official advisory government pages , the story seems to be true.
By all accounts, when submitting the visa application, this should be accompanied by itinerary showing the tour guide booked and all that perlava. Just seemed like too much of a ball ache.

Have contacted a shipping company in Israel to go the Haifa route, land border crossing will take a while from Jordan into Israel with a car on Saudi plates, but all possible. The Iran route just seems full of uncertainty.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Can be done pretty easily from Cairo to Taba, (in my first hand experience) even at night is possible. Biggest drama is avoiding random sand drifts across the road

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Virtually all the Egyptians I know, say no. They won't do it for security reasons. If they won't do it - I won't do it. In more stable times it is easily doable as you note. Kudos if you did it post-Revolution.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

I'm not doubting what the official line is..... more suggesting this is a good source of upto date info as every year scores of folk (Brits, Yanks etc) participate in the Mongal rally and travel through Iran. Some have guides some don't. I can't imagine there's hundreds of guides just sat there waiting for a trip.

It's a shame as I'd really like to visit Iran as it looks like a spectacular country. Also, I know shed loads of Iranians and always find them decent, fun folk with decent banter

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Post the first revolution and the second time post Morsi getting thrown out, when I went with my then GF (Egyptian) who's style of driving was the most immediate threat to my health. There's literally an army checkpoint almost every 20km of that road.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Aye, it does look a fascinating place to visit, as well as spectacular landscapes. Also would love to drive through northern Turkey - once through Iran - , that also looks like some pretty impressive scenery. I'll have a look at the source, no harm in exploring I guess. Cheers.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Might be worth a read... Slow Lane To Nowhere - A journey with my Land Rover Defender from Dubai to Belgium and back

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Great thread.

I am very experienced in the Caucasus - an endlessly fascinating region to live, work, and visit - the three countries of the "South Caucasus" are all quite different from one another and from the "North Caucasus" (the Russian side).

Unfortunately I believe the Iran-Azerbaijan crossing is closed to foreigners. I believe that is both for the mainland and the exclave of Nakchivan.

Let's play "what-if" and say it does open for foreigners.

It would be theoretically possible to go from Iran to Turkey through Nakchivan. Azerbaijan-Armenia crossings are completely impossible.

The route Pulaski proposed is not possible. You can cross from Georgia into de facto Abkhazia but not without a bundle of permissions from both sides that likely will not be forthcoming for the ordinary tourist. That "border" area, especially around Zugdidi, is also unstable and not the best for tourists to wander through. Once in Abkhazia however, no issues getting from there into Russia (that is also where the tourism into Sukhumi and Abkhazia comes from - no issues crossing over into Abkhazia from Sochi, if "Abkhaz visa" is sorted in advance). You do have to show up however on the exact day it says on your visa that you are going to arrive unless that requirement has been changed recently.

However, (mainland) Azerbaijan-Georgia crossings are possible and quite easy from there to just drive to Batumi and on into Turkey. Batumi is a particularly nice tourist town. If you wanted to go by way of Russia, you would need to take the route to Vladikavkaz, which skirts but does not enter South Ossetia. For scenery - spectacular; but you would probably need to alert all of the relevant local authorities beforehand, especially on the Russian side as a lot of Islamic militants hide out there. Consider hiring an escort both for security and to smooth things out with curious local authorities. That area is also known for its mineral spas and some of Russia's most popular mineral waters come from there. Once you get past Nalchik all should be OK.

I don't know much about the new bridge from Russia to Crimea, though I have spent a decent amount of time in Crimea (pre-war days). I also don't know if the "border" from Crimea to Ukraine is open to foreigners. Could be better to just drive north from the Caucasus and enter Ukraine at Kharkov. Then on to the UK.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Update: made contact with The Adventurists / Mongolian Rally Club on Facebook to ask the question. First ( and only, so far ) response was that I would deffo need a guide through Iran. Back to square one again, looking like the easy option ( ferry from Haifa ) is the safest bet. Although, this route still seems a bit more adventurous.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Why not get a ferry from Alexandria to Europe?

The comfy route would be to Venice but I'm sure you can be dropped off in a war zone/ shit hole if you really want to.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Not seen any ferry routes from Alex to mainland Europe. Can go from Alex to Tripoli in Lebanon, and then from there to Mercin, Turkey. Also, no inclination to visit Egypt - would rather go through Israel.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

There are no longer ferries running from Egypt to Greece/Italy.

Re: Drive from UAE to Jordan ?
 

Ah well, it was worth a try. Also, worth using as a resource as those lot take many different routes so are decent for entry and exit info.