|
Post by Longhorn5 on May 19, 2013 6:03:51 GMT
Hi all,
I arrived in the Kingdom last week from Houston, TX on bachelor status (family will be joining in December). I was supposed to be living in Dhahran but the day before my flight I received a call from ASC that bachelor housing in DHA was full and I would have to stay in RT or AQ temporarily. I hope this will change soon as my commute is over an hour each way.
My main challenge is my work location is just outside the DHA camp in East Park and there are no busses that go here (I've called the bus number and confirmed this). Also, taxis are booked in the mornings and afternoons. I would rent a car but I can't until I have a Saudi driver's license and for that I need my Iqama (should get this on May 26th). Both of the people in my group that live in DHA are out of town for the next two weeks and therefor I don't have anyone in my department that can give me a ride. My supervisor has stated that I need to find a way to and from work in the meantime.
Does anyone in DHA go to/from East Park? I arrive in DHA from RT at 6:40 am and can meet you anywhere inside the camp that is convenient for you. I get off of work at 4 PM. This would only be temporary until I receive my driver’s license and can rent a car.
Thank you, Camilo
|
|
|
Post by Hadia on May 19, 2013 12:33:32 GMT
I hope someone reading this knows someone who can help you.
Are you sure you need a Saudi drivers license to rent a car? Maybe the rules have changed since we were new arrivals, but my husband was able to rent a car from Majestic in DH camp with just US license and Aramco ID, no iqama or Saudi license required, at our time in any case. they told us we could take it out of camp for errands. Maybe it's different for commuting situation.
|
|
|
Post by halfwaythere on May 19, 2013 12:42:55 GMT
I can share my experience that I was able to rent a car from Samara with international driver's license. Of course I could not drive outside until I received my Saudi License. Samara and Majestic cabs are generally booked but you can Saudi Aramco taxi services, which are aavailable more frequently than samara or majestic.
|
|
|
Post by Hadia on May 19, 2013 16:01:08 GMT
It was our understanding that you can drive for one month in KSA on your home country driver's license before you have to get a Saudi license.
|
|
|
Post by gbhatia on May 19, 2013 18:54:15 GMT
we were able to rent a car using our badge number and canadian license . we weee advised not to drive off camp but if we did, to use caution. if you are going to do that, i would contact majestic immediately as we had to wait almost a week before a car became available.
|
|
|
Post by Longhorn5 on May 20, 2013 4:54:53 GMT
Thank you all for the advice. Miraculously, while we were having lunch yesterday a befriended a fellow expat that lives in Dhahran and works in East Park. He has graciously offered me a ride until I receive my Saudi Driver's license.
|
|