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Post by Ultra on Oct 27, 2011 7:30:29 GMT
I arrived in Dhahran two weeks ago. I thought I'd give some advice to new hires who arrive at Dammam Airport for the first time. I would strongly recommend you get off of the airplane as fast as you can. As you will be flying in business class, this shouldn't be a problem. The reason I say this is that the wait in line could take you up to two hours! The reason it takes so long is that you will be fingerprinted and photographed before being admitted into the country. When you arrive at passport control there will be one line for people who are new to Saudi Arabia and one line for people who have traveled to Saudi before. So, make sure you get into the correct line...
Ultra
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Post by Dalyguy on Oct 27, 2011 10:19:50 GMT
Don't forget that there might be a long walk from the plane to the immigration officer. At the baggage claim, I didn't even bother to ask for the porter to handle my baggage since the baggage cart is readily available for free. My boss picked me up from the airport and was surprised that we got out of the airport in less than an hour and that included the ARAMCO processing in the airport.
Jerome
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Post by Carolina on Oct 31, 2011 11:55:08 GMT
o
I hate to state this but when moving to Saudi Arabia one must learn to have patience yes some new arrivals get through customs quickly and others do not - and when you come to work here again patience has to be learnt - personally I have had to learn this as I am not that patient myself.
I do travel back and forth via Dammam airport and even if you travel business class one is not treated differently but if travelling to Bahrain and travelling business class then that is another matter much more efficient.
It is simply the luck of the draw and which airline you travel with and on which date also.
However thanks for posting your information as being a new arrival we welcome all new participants to this forum.
All the Best
Kind Regards
Carolina
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Post by alexander.lund on Nov 1, 2011 6:50:33 GMT
I came in through Dammam, but decided to try upon Bahrain airport for my first vacation. Even though the flight had a stop-over i Kuwait, I am quite sure that it saved me time (and frustration) compared to a direct flight to Dammam.
Even on economy ticket, I believe I spent about 5 minutes in passport queue in Bahrain.
Alex
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Post by Hadia on Nov 2, 2011 6:39:14 GMT
I'd also chime in with thoughts on this that, as a woman, I was glad I had purchased a black abaya and scarf and put them on before the plane landed in Dammam. I would have felt VERY conspicuous in just western clothing, regardless of how loose it was. I mail ordered mine from Amazon. It's not my favorite anymore, now that I'm here and have purchased some prettier ones :lol: but it did the trick the night we arrived and the first few weeks when we were relying on taxis and shoppers buses to get around. Also, I'm glad we got some Saudi Riyals from our bank in the US before we arrived in Dammam. It was a speedy process for us, being met at the airport by an Aramco rep, whisked off to their office in the airport, and then collecting our luggage and getting through Customs. What with kids in tow and it being the late hour and after many hours of travel, it was handy not to have to go find a cash exchange counter at the airport, especially for small bills for tips, and then for getting some groceries at the commissary after settling in.
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Post by Chikano on Nov 2, 2011 9:09:45 GMT
Hadia , can you give me ur email so we can talk since ur a new arriver to dhahran?? i really need this help sister. thanks alot.
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Post by Julz62 on Nov 2, 2011 11:39:37 GMT
We fly in and out of Dammam every time. I think standing in line for 20 minutes is easier then fighting the causeway for an hour plus. If you have kids they move you to the fast/short lines. We have never stood more than 20 minutes and have beat the bags out several times. I always wear my abaya but I have never covered my head.
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Post by alexander.lund on Nov 2, 2011 14:54:28 GMT
Nice to know that having kids might expedite thing. I'm not quite there yet, but insh , in a few months...  Alex |
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Post by Mr Barlow on Nov 2, 2011 19:05:20 GMT
I love nothing more than arriving at Dammam at 2am and queuing at customs with 300 other people at the one open booth whilst 5 custom officers stand around chatting nearby. For newbies it is a good first impression of what to expect. Like Carolina says - you have to learn to love to be patient when you come to to the Kingdom  |
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Post by gareth0127 on Nov 2, 2011 19:12:33 GMT
Our waiting time in dammam the last 3 or 4 times has been around 20 mins, then you only have around half hour drive home!
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Post by vpainter on Nov 4, 2011 20:26:57 GMT
Most western ladies do not wear abayas in the airport in Dammam. Conservative dress is all that is needed.
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Post by treeclogs on Nov 8, 2011 22:19:42 GMT
vpainter is correct. most wester women arriving at the airport don't even bother with the abaya at all. i've not seen any mutawa there and the short walk to the car/taxi is not worth the headache.
however, if you come to dmm for the first time it might be a good idea to arrive on a weekday, as i did. no queue at all. 30 min from aircraft to the car. longest wait was for the luggage.
i arrived to riyadh on an other occasion and there was 4 hour queues
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Post by Hadia on Nov 10, 2011 17:36:21 GMT
My point was that I, on an individual level, would have felt conspicuous without an abaya. When I arrived, I did not see any western women in the airport who were not wearing an abaya. I am still glad I was not the only woman standing around in western clothes without an abaya. We arrived on a weeknight.
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Post by Carolina on Nov 11, 2011 3:26:14 GMT
o
I am late in responding again but YES I always wear my Abaya when travelling to Dammam airport and returning back to the Kingdom - I simply feel far more comfortable and I think at the end of the day it shows a sign of respect - personally I would feel very uncomfortable just wearing Westerns clothes and in fact if I am travelling to Bahrain even for the day I throw my Abaya in the car just in case for any reason when our car is being checked by customs on the causeway I have to get out then I can put my Abaya on - this has never happened but one never knows again a sign of respect.
I travel a lot on my own to Dammam airport and then back again to the Kingdom and I do feel that the customs do treat me well as I have my Abaya on and speaking a few Arabic words to them seems to put a smile on their face and makes for a smooth checking of passports etc simply showing respect means a lot to them here.
I do carry my scarf as well but have never had to cover my head and I do have blonde hair but this has never been a problem for me.
Hope this helps to the new arrivals that will be making this journey via Dammam airport for the first time.
Carolina
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Post by vpainter on Nov 11, 2011 19:27:29 GMT
Please note, some women choose to wear an abaya out of respect; but it is not a lack of respect that some western women do not wear an abaya in the Dammam airport. They simply do not have to, especially if they are from the U.S. The Saudi & American governments have an agreement that American women do not have to wear an abaya while in Saudi Arabia. Some ladies are totally comfortable with dressing in western dress in the airport and in Khobar. Some ladies are totally comfortable with wearing an abaya in those same places. Its a personal choice. That being said there are towns in KSA where those same western women who don't wear an abaya would put one on.
Do whatever makes you comfortable when you come and go at the airport or other border crossings, or in Khobar, or anywhere in KSA.
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