Collected Wisdom
Here is a digest of all the stuff we've been through for visas, carnets, and all that sort of stuff. It may help others who plan a similar trip. Please note that is is all relevant to our situation, working in Qatar, residency permit, etc etc.
Saudi Visa
Whatever 'they' may tell you, you can get a visa to travel through Saudi on a motorbike! Make sure they know it's a group of you as there is a theory that the Saudi authorities don’t like solo motorbike travellers. We used a ‘fixer’ to get the visa, no problem. You need 2 passport photos on a white background, a letter of no objection from your sponsor, Istimara and 135 QAR. At the border hand your passport and Istimara to the first person, collect a chit, had it all to the next person etc etc. You have to have your fingerprints taken on entering Saudi, then go through customs, get searched (what are they looking for from Qatar?), then the next booth, then buy the insurance, then you’re off!
United Arab Emirates
Things get better as you get to the UAE, same deal, hand over passport and Istmara, then get a chit etc etc. Then buy insurance, the head for Abu Dhabi. The road is very boring, 320km. If you see a petrol station, stop! (More concern to bikers than car drivers) Watch the speed cameras in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, notice how all the traffic is observing the speed limit?
Iran
You need a visa and a carnet. The visa is easy, use www.PersiaTours.com. The carnet is more fun, go to the Qatar Automobile and Touring Club on C ring, just north of the airport (Toyota) traffic lights. You’ll need; a Qatari national who will act as guarantor, a letter from your bank guaranteeing up to 50,000 QAR, 2750 QAR in cash, plus 2 passport photos (I think these are for the International Driving licence). The chance of getting all this done in one visit is next to nowt! The bank guarantee is simple, you give them 50,000 QAR, they keep it until the carnet is fulfilled, great system eh!
When you get to the embassy in Doha, which is only opens from 8-12 in the morning (Sunday-Thursday), present your paperwork including 2 photos, fill in a form, take your own fringer prints (honest!), pay 765 QAR by credit card only, get a chit and then go back in about 10 days to collect your passport, InShallah!
When you get to the embassy in Doha, which is only opens from 8-12 in the morning (Sunday-Thursday), present your paperwork including 2 photos, fill in a form, take your own fringer prints (honest!), pay 765 QAR by credit card only, get a chit and then go back in about 10 days to collect your passport, InShallah!
