Driving holiday to Dubai

[Cobratwin]

Hi guys im looking at sorting a driving holiday down to Dubai next year and was hopping some of you guys could give me some info on the area,
ill be driving down from South Wales UK, over 6-7 days its about 7500km drive down so will be servicing the car before i leave and would want to get the car serviced once i get there,
what sort of prices is diesel?
Where is a good place to have a service?
and any recommendations for driving down your way?

Thanks
Cobra

Diesel is AED 3.50 = 60 pence / litre

What sort of service are you looking to get done? Might be a good idea to get an oil filter from the UK itself as most 'Lubes' don't stock it.

You could always get it serviced at the main dealers (Gargash) in Dubai. However, there is also an Independent Alfa specialist in Dubai.

Can't you afford a plane ticket?

[Cobratwin]

would be looking at an oil change + filter and prob a fuel and air filter change after the long drive,
and not knowing the quality of the fuel on the run down, but i could bring the bits down with me nps and just get someone to sort it for the day while i explore

I like to drive and all my holidays i drive to on a normal working day i drive about 1000Km so its not a huge leap to drive all the way down there, last holiday i did was down to Morocco just over 2000km and did it in under 24hours (less the ferry rides)

Is there any areas i should look at avoiding on the trip down?

I dare say driving there is going to cost a fair bit more than a plane ticket as i drive a 2.4 159 TI

[Cobratwin]

Double posting again sorry

Originally Posted by Cobratwin

would be looking at an oil change + filter and prob a fuel and air filter change after the long drive,
and not knowing the quality of the fuel on the run down, but i could bring the bits down with me nps and just get someone to sort it for the day while i explore

I like to drive and all my holidays i drive to on a normal working day i drive about 1000Km so its not a huge leap to drive all the way down there, last holiday i did was down to Morocco just over 2000km and did it in under 24hours (less the ferry rides)

Is there any areas i should look at avoiding on the trip down?

I dare say driving there is going to cost a fair bit more than a plane ticket as i drive a 2.4 159 TI

Sounds exciting. Do you have a particular route you will be taking?

[alfavirign]

Sounds like an Epic Journey

[Cobratwin]

im looking at two trips at the moment, and need to decide what one to do,
for the run down to Dubai, im looking at Uk to France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Solenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Iraq.. Kuwalt and finally Dubai following the Gulf of Oman down from Kuwalt,

the other is France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungry, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Home

trying to decide atm what one to go for atm

[mossawi]

Originally Posted by Cobratwin

im looking at two trips at the moment, and need to decide what one to do,
for the run down to Dubai, im looking at Uk to France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Solenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Iraq.. Kuwalt and finally Dubai following the Gulf of Oman down from Kuwalt,

the other is France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungry, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Home

trying to decide atm what one to go for atm

You might have to rethink the Iraq leg of the journey or just skim though the north across to Iran and down to UAE. Also another complication with going through Iraq and Kuwait is 2 days of boring driving through Saudi!!!

[Spider95]

I'd also like to know how you're going to get a visa through Saudi Arabia. Not saying it's impossible but 'tourist' visas are not straightforward, unless things have changed. Still, at least diesel is much cheaper than UAE.

Please also be realistic about driving conditions in the Middle East. It's not Morroco, which still has a 'Western' flavour to it. Driving in UAE is INTERESTING. By that I mean reasonably dangerous, with enormous Jap 4x4 powering through tiny spaces at speeds in excess of 160kph. Death rate on the roads in Dubai, for instance, are high. The main artery in Dubai, Sheik Zayeed road, is an experience you will not forget. 'Death Alley' was my term for it when I lived there.

Oh, and I completely forgot about the high volatility and danger in Iraq and Syria. Your British passport is a worthless piece of paper in these places. Life is of no consequence. Your life may be expended for absolutely no reason at all and would be caste aside as nonchalantly as a dead cigarette.

[Pascs]

A friend of ours did it the other way, drove from Qatar to the UK, I dont know his route though.

What time of year do you plan to travel, summer is scorchingly hot here and will be extremely tough on a vehicle.

[Spider95]

Originally Posted by Pascs

A friend of ours did it the other way, drove from Qatar to the UK, I dont know his route though.

What time of year do you plan to travel, summer is scorchingly hot here and will be extremely tough on a vehicle.

Forgot to mention the weather. Go on Pascs, tell him the full truth, the 45 degrees plus Centrigrade heat (shade temperature) and very high humidity. Lovely. July and August are just superb

[Cobratwin]

hey guys,
No rose-tinted glasses here i regularly drive in country's that are far from "Western flavored".
although usually in large vehicles as apposed to a car.
but appreciate the heads up, and one of the reasons im asking is to get a clear idea of whats involved. as i haven't been down your way before. but to give you a better idea ive driven most of Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan. Along with most of the European countrys.
but as you lot live down there it gives me a better understanding to get your views before i make my final decision,
any other info you can give me would be gratefully received.

[Pascs]

Yes 45deg is just a normal day in summer time, its regularly 48deg and the humidity is scary......just like sitting in a sauna really.

Actually it wasnt so humid last year and now we've had 3 months of 15-25deg weather which has been great

As for the driving, I dont really notice it so much anymore. 75% of vehicle here are big 4x4's and American SUVs, the biggest difference here is that the majority of driving is in the city so the speed is a bit lower, its the horrendous ability and arrogant attitude of drivers that causes most accidents here

[Cobratwin]

Originally Posted by Spider95

Forgot to mention the weather. Go on Pascs, tell him the full truth, the 45 degrees plus Centrigrade heat (shade temperature) and very high humidity. Lovely. July and August are just superb

Rofl i was thinking of July August.. might leave it a little later or earlier if its bad on the car, although i LOVE Heat and humidity!

[Pascs]

Unless you have experienced the heat and humidity here then you will be shocked, even at night it can be 35-40deg and humidity so high that the moment you step out of the house or car, you are hit by instant sweat from every pore.

I would come earlier rather than later, April is probably about as late as I would come. However I drive both my V6's through all the summer without problems.........except the AC is useless at keeping you cool especially with leather seats.

I quick google brought up a few sites where people have driven from/to Europe from UAE etc so there should be some good info out there.

What vehicle are you planning to drive?

BTW fuel in Qatar is so cheap you dont have to think about the cost, I fill up my 60 litres for about £10, Dubai is a bit more expensive

[Cobratwin]

sweet thanks for the advice m8,
ill have a google and see what i can find out,
I plan on using my alfa 159 2.4Ti its only a few years old but if the heat effects the vehicles like you suggest i dont want to prematurely cause problems with it so will look at coming at an earlier time of year.

i will also have a Good look into how to sort out a visa to gain access to some of the country's on the way down
maybe changing to Iran like you've mention

[mossawi]

Hi again,

Sorry if my point came across as a bit negative. I would support driving through Iraq and think it would be a fantastic experience (I am currently on holiday in Baghdad). But I think safety comes first as you probably need someone local to guide you through the length of the country.

I often toyed with the idea of going from Dubai to the UK by car. My preferred route would have been Ferry across to Iran and across to turkey from there and onwards to Western Europe.

Heat wise, I would just plan the trip so you arrive in Dubai by April at the latest. That way you can leave just before the heat hits the region and enjoy spring on the way back.

[Cobratwin]

Hi Guys,
thanks for all the replys, ive been going over everything and decided not to do it this time around.
after checking all my timings we are not gonna have enough time in Dubai to full enjoy ourselves, what i will do is have a shorter holiday next year and do Europe instead. But i still want to do a run down your way so its probably gonna be a couple of years down the line where i can put a full month or two into it.

thanks again chaps its much appreciated and lots of info i can use in a couple of years.

[almayer]

Anyway, should you change your mind, avoid Syria & Iraq now, better arrive in UAE through ferry from Iran (Bandar Abbas), a friend of mine just did it (but from Dubai to Europe), originally his intention was to go Saudi-Jordan-Syria but had to change his plan, so instead did Iran-Azerbaijan-Iraqi Kurdistan-Turkey...
Here's his web site:

Slow Lane To Nowhere - A journey with my Land Rover Defender from Dubai to Belgium and back

[mossawi]

Originally Posted by Cobratwin

Hi Guys,
thanks for all the replys, ive been going over everything and decided not to do it this time around.
after checking all my timings we are not gonna have enough time in Dubai to full enjoy ourselves, what i will do is have a shorter holiday next year and do Europe instead. But i still want to do a run down your way so its probably gonna be a couple of years down the line where i can put a full month or two into it.

thanks again chaps its much appreciated and lots of info i can use in a couple of years.

Good luck