Car Hire

I was gung ho on renting a car as soon as I arrived, but ended up holding off. Until you're familiar with the roads, and how people drive, waiting a month or three isn't a bad thing. Depending on how long your flight(s) take, how many time zones you go through and what time it is when you arrive in Dammam, you might not be in the best shape to drive in a new country when it's pitch dark. The airport is a solid 30 minute drive to Dhahran and you'll get to experience some drivers that drive between lane lines, some that straddle them, some that are fixated on their cell phones and some that will be doing 120 mph in a 120 kph zone and will come right up on your bumper.

Between company buses and taxis it's fairly easy to get around. A taxi from Dhahran to most spots in Khobar is 30SR with a tip to the driver, 60 SR roundtrip.  You'd need to be making more than 10 trips a month for a rental car to pencil out.

There used to be a company that rented cars on Dahran compound, but my understanding is their contract ended so that is no longer an option.

I've been in KSA since the beginning of December and just got my Saudi drivers license this week. There were some hang ups with my Saudi Council of Engineers membership and Iqama which led to delays, and I waited a week or so before tackling the drivers license which wasn't a huge deal, but again was about a 2 week process all said and done.

Get here and get settled. Then worry about a car. You will be able to hire from Dammam airport using your UK licence, but on arrival someone from your department will meet you and take you to Dhahran and your accomodation. If you need a car, wait a few days at least until your familiarisation meeting.

Car permit is relatively easy to acquire - even for a hire car. You have the choice of up to 2 weeks for a temporary permit, no more than 2 times in a 3 month period from the visitor gate at the Khobar entrance. Alternatively there is a "drive thru" visitor option at one of the other gates. Any longer you must apply for a sticker from the ID office.

Things take time, the beurocracy is at times painful.