Ah, the famous Dubai visa run or border run! As a resident for nearly a decade, I’ve done many visa runs over the years. From changing visas – yes, before you had to leave and come back! To periods when I didn’t have a job, or I was looking for work in Dubai. So had to go back and forth to avoid fines.
I’ve done every possible type of visa run imaginable.
So regardless of your reason for needing to do a visa run, don’t worry! This long-time visa run expert has got all the details for you. So you don’t have to go through what I went through and not have a clue on how to do a visa run!
Plus all the secret sauce I’ve learnt!
So what’s the process? What is the best or cheapest method? I will answer all your questions below!
What is a Dubai visa run? Why do one?
A visa run is when a tourist visa expires or is close to expiring in the UAE, and you go to the border or travel to a nearby country and back to get a new tourist visa.
You may also need to do this when changing your tourist visa to a work visa or when cancelling a work visa but wishing to remain in the UAE.
PLEASE NOTE – This process is not possible for all visa types. It will depend on your visa and passport.
IMPORTANT – Recently British passport holders have been given 180 day visas with 90 days allowed inside the country instead of the previous 30 day extendable visa. Nothing has been officially annouced however, so will update if it’s still possible to do a visa run. However based on this, it seems it isn’t possible for British passport holders unless you extend online.
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It is still valid for all nationalities that get the 30, 60 or 90 day extenable visa.
*Check what visa you get on based on your nationality here
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If your passport gets a 6 month non extendable visa which is usable for a maximum of 3 months inside the UAE, this process won’t be applicable.
Disclaimer – These rules are subject to change and while I try to keep this information as up-to-date as possible. It’s possible that I am not aware of every new change. Make sure to check with an immigration official or at the airport when arriving and use this link to check what visa you are on and how many days you have left.
Is a Dubai visa run still possible?
Yes, it is still possible to do a visa run.
Due to travel restrictions, the visa run wasn’t possible for a while. However, now, with the Omani entry requirements back to normal and a newer, cheaper tourist visa, it’s not only possible but costs less. Find out more below!
If you’re interested in visiting Oman rather than just a visa run, read how to get to Sohar or Muscat by bus from Dubai. It’s the cheapest bus option at 55 AED each way
What are the options for a Dubai visa run?
If you want to do a Dubai visa run, you have a few options. These are the crossing the border and coming straight back options.
I won’t go into travel options because there are loads if you prefer a trip! However, this experience below is a must for anyone living in Dubai!
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Option 1 – *Quickest – Drive yourself to the border
Driving to the border of Oman by car either to Hatta or Al Dara crossing. An Omani tourist visa is needed but you can usually get one on arrival at the border depending on your nationality.
If you drive, it will be cheaper to hire a car than a shared bus. Prices have risen a lot for the buses in recent years.
You can usually hire a car from 150 – 250 AED a day, plus your petrol which is usually around a full tank but depends on the car model. So around 300 AED.
Cost: Petrol, Oman car insurance & rental car hire (if needed)
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Option 2 – Use a shared bus service
Take a dedicated service by bus to the border of Oman. An Omani tourist visa is also needed. If there are four of you or you’re a family, then it may be more cost-effective to hire a private vehicle.
The buses typically go to Hatta but I have heard of buses going to the Al Dara crossing too.
Cost: Around 400 AED per person for a bus or 900 AED for a private vehicle. *Prices correct at the time of writing
If you want a REALLY cheap bus option, then take the Omani-owned bus to Sohar from Dubai. It’s 55 AED each way (110 for a return) but it’s more suited for a day trip. You’ll need to spend some time in Sohar waiting for the return bus. For more details on the bus from Dubai to Oman.
Option 3 – Fly to a nearby country
Taking a flight to either Muscat, Oman or another cheap destination. Bahrain sometimes comes up as the cheapest, you can use a flight search tool but typically the cheapest is Muscat, Oman.
Kiwi.com which has a great “Anywhere” search function I’ve found. Simply enter the airport you’re leaving from and type Anywhere. It’ll then show you the cheapest flight for the date you need to do you visa run. Make sure to add Dubai up to 250km if you don’t mind travelling from Abu Dhabi airport.
Pro Tip – Abu Dhabi is usually around 50% cheaper than Dubai flights for a visa run
There’s no need to pay for a tourist visa unless you’re exiting the airport.
Cost: 500 AED to 1000 AED, depending on the choice of flight and location.
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Wizz Air is available from Abu Dhabi, I’ve found tickets with Wizz Air for very cheap. One way starts from 58 AED, if you’re part of their discount club, and was 99 AED without a membership. The flying back was slightly cheaper at 89 AED without being part of the discount club. So between 116 AED and 188 AED for a return.
Option 4 – Pay to extend your visa online
This is the newest option available, simply visit your nearest immigration centre or do it online. You pay a fee to extend it without needing to travel.
This is available from the UAE government website here, or you can pay a visa-run provider also.
Cost: 610 AED
How do I do a Dubai visa run driving myself?
If you already have a car and don’t mind driving for 3 to 4 hours in total this is the quickest option. Be aware it can take possibly longer with traffic and weekends there can be longer waits at the border.
If you have an existing car, this will be the cheapest and fastest option since you’ll only pay for petrol plus your visa costs (find out more about Oman visa costs below).
You have two main route options from Dubai:
- Hatta Border Crossing
- Al Darah Border Crossing via Ras Al Khaimah
There are others which make sense for Abu Dhabi and other smaller crossings. Some are GCC nationals only, and some aren’t open all the time, etc. So they won’t be included in this guide.
In case you want the names of the Abu Dhabi crossings, they’re below. All are pretty close to each other and you would need to head to Al Ain from Abu Dhabi. Al Ain is also a nice experience if you want a day out while doing your border run.
Abu Dhabi crossings:
- Hamasa Border Crossing
- Buraimi Border Crossing
- Mezyad Border Crossing
Hatta Route
The Hatta route is the most popular and is the same route you would take if you were driving to Sohar or Muscat in Oman.
The pros of the Hatta route are that it is a slightly shorter distance to the crossing from Dubai.
There is also a small duty-free shop, the amenities are new (aka the toilets are nicer), and you deal with Dubai immigration as an authority.
The cons of this location are it is a lot busier than Al Dara Crossing, and there is a large distance between the two visa offices which isn’t walkable. This means you either need existing cover or need to buy car insurance for Oman.
Also, the distance between the two adds to your journey time even though the border is closer to Dubai, so it ends up being similar to Al Dara in RAK.
You will also need all your car documentation, such as registration card and an NOC (No Objection Certificate) if it’s a rental car. Not all rental companies allow for the car to be driven out of UAE.
There are reports they are no longer allowing rental cars across the border, even if you have permission.
It’s possible you don’t get asked for these documents but you will need to take them in case you are asked. No one wants to drive for 3-4 hours and not achieve anything, right?!
Al Darah Route
The second option is Al Darah Crossing which is part of Ras Al Khaimah, as there is a small peninsula to the north of Ras Al Khaimah that belongs to Oman.
The pros of this route are that it is a lot less busy than the Hatta Crossing and the immigration offices are a lot closer together. So it’s possible to walk between the offices and the drive between the two offices adds very little time if you drive rather than walk. It’s a two-minute walk.
The cons of this crossing are that it is a little bit longer from Dubai, by 20 minutes, and that you can hit the Sharjah traffic if you go during peak commute hours.
Also, the facilities are older (toilets etc) and you’re dealing with Ras Al Khaimah immigration.
Why it matters which crossing you use for immigration
If you have any issue with your entry or exit stamp and your last entry or exit was in Ras Al Khaimah. You will have to go back to Ras Al Khaimah to sort the issue out. Yes, that means driving all the way back to Ras Al Khaimah and dealing with their immigration offices.
However, if your work visa is being processed in Dubai or you are based in Dubai and you crossed the Hatta border last. Then any issues you will deal with will be the Dubai authorities. So it” be easier and closer to go to a Dubai immigration office.
Also each Emirate has its own authorities, and some use different computer systems.
From my own experience, I had one stamp showing up on the system in Ras Al Khaimah, but it wasn’t showing up on the Dubai system. Dealing with different authorities can cause issues and it ended up with me doing a lot of back and forth between Ras Al Khaimah. Not fun!
It’s worth checking if you book a bus, which route they will take and it’s better to go to the Dubai Hatta border if it’s for a work-related visa change and you work visa is from Dubai.
How long does each route take?
Hatta Route
The drive is roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes from Dubai to the Hatta border crossing (via the E102) without traffic. It is then another 15 to 20 minutes drive between the passport control offices.
It is one of the key crossings for those driving to Muscat. So the border itself can be busy with queues. You will also see buses and tour buses.
Al Dara Ras Al Khaimah Route
The drive is roughly 1 hour and 50 minutes from Dubai to Al Dara and is a much quieter crossing. It is rare to see any buses here. So the extra driving time can be saved at the border crossing.
Plus you save time since the passport control offices are closer to each other and do not require driving.
The one downside is the Sharjah traffic with this route. If you plan outside of peak traffic hours, you can actually complete this route quicker than Hatta despite the longer driving distance.
Sharjah traffic is usually bad in the direction of Dubai for the morning traffic commute from 8 am till 10 am and the opposite direction heading back to Sharjah between 4 pm and 6 pm. Leading up to these times it gets busier.
For both, the total process can take anything from 3.5 hours to 5 hours. Depending on traffic and queues. Realistically, by the time you have stopped to have a quick bite to eat or a drink. It will likely be closer to 5 hours to complete your Dubai visa run.
My personal preference is the Al Dara route. It is a nice drive along the coast and there are quite a few interesting places along the way.
For those of you who like to buy your alcohol in bulk, you pass by quite a few famous shops for alcohol runs from Dubai. It is definitely easier this route if you are going on a weekend or UAE or Omani holiday as the Hatta crossing gets very busy.
Hatta also has some beautiful places to visit and lots of nature to enjoy a lovely day out.
I would do this one if it’s in the week and you are happy to buy Oman car insurance or add it to your existing policy.
If you do need to do the Hatta crossing on a weekend, it’s best to do it in the early morning.
Doing the Dubai visa run by bus
If you do not want to drive, don’t have a car or simply want some company. The bus is a good affordable solution. It is slower typically than going by car since there are more people and the bus drives slower. Allow for 5 hours, though it can be longer.
The exit process and passport process are exactly the same as the visa run by car; which I will go into more detail about below.
There are a few companies which offer the service by bus and all the companies I have seen leave from Dubai Marina Mall. You can book online for 220 AED. A private transfer is 750 AED.
They have AC and are comfortable enough. Also, it’s likely you’ll meet other people and get chatting on the journey. It’s fun to find out why other people are doing a visa run too and their Dubai stories.
Typically buses go the Hatta route however a friend took a service which went the Ras Al Khaimah route instead. So it’s worth checking which way they’ll go if you have a preference.
If you’re a family or there are four of you who need to go together. You can hire a private car for 750 AED. This works out to around 187.5 AED per person.
Hatta Route process
Before we begin, with this route, you may be asked for car insurance which covers Oman. This will cost you extra if you do not already have it. More details are below.
Also note: None GCC nationals are not able to take the E44 directly to Hatta. So make sure the navigation is set correctly. You will have to come off the E44 to the E102 and then later rejoin the E44. Typically this route comes up as default on Google Maps but always best to check.
First, you will arrive at a small kiosk where you need to pay your exit fee (35 AED). You used to be able to pay cash or card but I’ve been told it’s only card now.
The Hatta crossing charges a small fee for paying by card. You are given a small card which you need to keep hold of.
Always check that your passport has been stamped! Also, keep your receipt in case of any issues.
With this, you walk into passport control to get your passport stamped. Here you will also need to pay any fines if you have overstayed. They will also take your Emirates ID if you are cancelling a resident visa.
*I recommend going to the bathroom here rather than the Oman border control as the bathrooms are nicer – Pro tip!
Once complete, time to get back in your car or bus and drive to another area. Here you have your car and luggage checked. This can take time especially if it’s a weekend. Once complete, you drive around 15/20 minutes to the Oman crossing.
Here you park and go into the Omani office to pay for your Omani tourist visa. They will stamp your passport at the same time. Again there can be a queue for the Omani visa. It can also be quite hectic since there isn’t a set queuing system. You are now halfway through your Dubai visa run!
Make sure to explain you will be coming straight back and they will give you an exit stamp at the same time. (Yes the officials know and understand what a visa run is). Also here you can stop for tea or coffee and snacks. As the Omani office has a little cafe and shop.
Once finished, time to drive to the other side and start heading back to Dubai. You must have your Omani visa and exit stamp to re-enter Dubai. So sadly no, you cannot save yourself 50 AED by not getting an Omani visa.
The same process is repeated going back. You go into the office again on the other side and get your new tourist visa. The only real difference going back into Dubai is the security checks are more rigorous.
Female officers lead women into a small room where they’re patted down. They also check your luggage. Once you finish this final process, they will lift the barrier and your Dubai visa run is complete. Hurrah!
Also, there is a small Duty-Free shop in the Dubai office leaving Oman. Here you can buy snacks for the remainder of the trip. There are also some gifts and other items you would typically find in the Duty-Free.
Al Darah, Ras Al Khaimah Route process
Oman car insurance is not required. This is due to the short distance between the border crossings. Also, I would advise avoiding peak traffic hours since Sharjah can be very congested. The process is similar to the Hatta, Dubai visa run. This is the best route to do an Oman / Dubai visa run in my opinion.
First, you park to the right and walk into the border control office. Here you pay your exit fee (35 AED). Again it is possible to pay by cash or credit card. Here I have never been charged a credit card fee, unlike Hatta.
If you plan to drive through to the Omani office (either it’s hot or you don’t like walking), you also need to give your car plate number. You’re given a small card and your passport stamped.
If you choose to drive through the barrier, you can park very close to the Oman office. It is approximately 200 meters between the two offices so it is easy to walk should you wish.
You go into the Omani passport control and pay 50 AED (5 OMR) for your Omani visa. Same as Hatta, you must get your Omani visa and exit stamp in order to re-enter Dubai. Just tell the officer you will be heading straight back and they will do both stamps at the same time. They are used to seeing visa run people.
Always check that your passport has been stamped and keep your receipt in case of any issues.
At this crossing, it seems to be rarer for none GCC people to use it or perhaps rare for lone white females? It definitely seems fewer people come here for a Dubai visa run. I’ve found the officials are a lot more chatty, especially the Omanis compared with Hatta where they are dealing with so many people so they just don’t have time.
Often they ask where I’ve visited in Oman or tell me where to visit. The most common question is, “Have you visited Salalah?” The Emiratis are typically more serious. The Omani’s will often laugh and chat in Arabic to each other as they stamp your passport.
Finally, simply drive or walk straight back to the border. You are now at the back of the border control office. There are a few parking spaces, so simply park your car and walk towards the barriers.
Just before the barriers, you will see a door to your left. It isn’t that well signposted but it’s just before the barriers. Enter here and get your new visa on arrival. You are given a new small piece of card to show to security when exiting so keep hold of it. You also need to give your car number plate.
Once finished, simply get back into your car and drive or walk through the barriers. Show them your card and next you go to customs.
Customs will once again check your exit card and then also check your car. You get out of the vehicle and open your boot. Once finished your Dubai visa run is now complete! Well apart from driving home of course.
As you drive away from the crossing you will see little cafes along the way since there aren’t any cafes inside the border crossing. It’s easy to stop and beep your horn for some Karak or to order a sandwich outside. They’ll even bring it to your car. Though they don’t always speak English here so you might need to point at pictures if you don’t know Arabic!
Also, this peninsula of Oman called Musandam is really beautiful and it’s definitely worth checking out if you have time. You can also choose to do a tour of Musandam or the city of Khasab rather than doing a visa run.
Doing the Dubai visa run by plane
If you want to fly from Dubai, it’s typically the most expensive option but is probably more comfortable than the other two apart from the online option.
It also depends on what cheap flights you can get, but typically, Muscat is the cheapest. Previously flights were available for around 250 AED. In the past few years, I haven’t seen anything for less than 500 AED from Dubai.
However if you don’t mind to travel to Abu Dhabi airport, I’ve frequently seen flights for around the 250 AED mark.
The process is the same as you would taking a normal flight. The only key difference is that when you get to the airport. Rather than queuing and paying for your visa. You simply follow the signs for connecting flights or transfers.
You do not need an Oman visa or an exit stamp like when doing a land border crossing. You save around 85 AED by doing it this way.
Once you’ve landed. You go through security and into the departures area of the airport. Often you will have only a short time in the airport before you’re back on the same plane. Once you land back in Dubai, simply head to passport control. Once you are through immigration, you have completed your Dubai visa run once again. Simple.
In all honesty, I just wouldn’t recommend this option anymore. The online extension costs around 610 AED and can be renewed twice. So unless you’ve used up your online visa renewals and really don’t want to do a road trip, then this is the most expensive and inconvenient option.
Commonly asked questions about Dubai Visa Runs
How many times can I do a visa run in Dubai?
The amount of times you can do a physical visa run is unlimited, regardless of whether you do it by car, bus or plane. It also doesn’t matter which border crossing you choose to use. All are unlimited. The only one which is limited is doing an online visa extension which has a maximum amount of two times.
How much is a border run in Dubai?
It depends on the option you take, here are the approximate costs for a Dubai border run (excluding visa costs, food & drinks):
- Car: 50-150 AED for petrol (depending on your car)
- Bus: 250 AED per person
- Plane: 500 to 1000 AED
- Online extension: 610 aed
When do I need to do my visa run?
UPDATE JAN 2024 – The 10-day grace period seems to be back with people seeing it added to their visa validity online. It was removed on 1st June 2023 and there hasn’t been an official announcement that it’s officially back but online people are reporting it shows up so make sure to check your visa expiry online.
If you have checked and your passport is part of the 30-day visa on arrival program, previously you got 30 days plus 10 days grace. However, after years of warning it would potentially be removed, the UAE government ditched the 10-day grace period in 2023.
Be aware, the way your visa is calculated means the day you land until midnight is classed as day 1! For most people, you’ll need to do your visa run on day 29 at the latest.
For example, if you land at 11 pm that 1 hour is your day 1 and after midnight is day 2. It’s not a 24-hour period from when you land.
It is best not to risk it, otherwise, you’ll be fined for overstaying. Overstaying is 50 AED per day. Plus an admin fee.
You can also check how long your visa is and when it expires here! It currently includes the grace period on the portal as the expiry date.
What if I go before my visa expires?
Currently, if you exit during your 30-day visa. You are given a new 30-day visa since it is a single-entry visa.
This changed back in January 2018 after a brief period of changing it to a multiple entry visa and thankfully haven’t changed it again since. This created a huge amount of confusion.
It is always best to check when you arrive with the official issuing your visa, just ask how many days you have. As they typically don’t inform you when they stamp your passport.
With the multi-entry system, you had to leave during your grace period otherwise you didn’t get a new visa. Or wait until after midnight to re-enter after the last day. This caused quite a bit of confusion and fines. It also meant serious date planning to stay long term and travel in the region. Thankfully! It’s been back to the single entry system for over a year now! So let’s hope it stays this way.
How much does the Omani visa cost?
The Omani visa is now free for over 100 nationalities with a tourist visa on arrival that allows you to stay for up to 14 days. You can also pay for a longer multiple entry visa if needed. This was released in March 2023.
You previously had to pay 50 AED (5 OMR) and was valid for 10 days. The 10 day visa was reintroduced in July 2018. Previously, only a one month visa for 200 AED (20 OMR) was available. Though some nationalities do still have to pay for a visa. So you can check what visa you are eligible for here.
There is a choice of applying online beforehand or applying on arrival at the border. The Oman government have stated they have no plans to make it mandatory to apply online before you reach the border. Personally, I choose to do it at the border.
Many bus visa-run operators still have the old visa information on their websites and haven’t yet updated it.
How do I get Omani car insurance?
You may be asked to prove you have car insurance for Oman when doing the Hatta crossing. As you exit, you can pay a fee to gain cover however this costs around 100 AED for one week. It is likely to be cheaper through your own insurance company.
If it is a rental car, you will need to call your rental company and ask if the car has Oman insurance. This may have an additional cost depending on your rental company. However! There are report they aren’t currently letting rental cars cross the border.
I wouldn’t recommend hiring a car only for a Dubai visa run since the cost for a single day can be quite expensive. Added with your petrol costs, it is likely it will be more expensive than the bus.
If there is two or more of you however, then hiring a car for the Dubai visa run can make sense but you’ll have to do the RAK crossing in case they make you walk and don’t allow the rental car across the border.
Also, you will need your car registration ID in addition to the paper proof of your car insurance. Some car rental companies may not wish to give the registration ID. Therefore if you have a rental car, it may be easier to go the Al Dara route.
So which is the best or cheapest visa run method?
The cheapest and best method will be your own car if you have one or currently hiring one but petrol prices have gone up in recent months. Though the petrol cost is still less than a bus ticket. So check your miles per gallon and how much your car would use if you’re trying to save money or find someone in the same situation who’s happy to put towards petrol.
It’s also quicker typically and you’ll have a lot more freedom to visit other places while you’re there. Both Ras Al Khaimah and Hatta have some amazing things to do and see nearby.
The second cheapest method is the bus and is great if you don’t want to drive. The best thing about the bus is meeting new people. It also takes all the stress out if you’re doing it for the first time and means you will be more familiar if you decide to do it by car afterwards.
My least recommended is by plane. Yes, it’s more comfortable sitting in an airport and on a plane but it’s expensive and takes a long time. By the time you go to the airport, sit in departures and do the flight. You haven’t saved any time compared with driving. You also have to consider taxi costs based on your location to the airport.
The bus leaves from an easier location for most expats. Some people prefer this method but as a visa run, I personally like the car the best. Mostly because I can choose whether to make a day of it and visit some of the awesome places along the way.
Want to learn more about Dubai and the UAE? Read our other helpful articles below
How to easily get a sim card in Dubai as a tourist or new resident
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What plug type in Dubai and the UAE do I need? Plus voltages and travel tips
What is life in Dubai like? 29 things to know before you visit or move
Getting around Dubai, full guide to the hop on and hop off tour bus in Dubai
Conclusion
Looking for a visa run day out?
🤩 Check availability for a day out to Musandam in Oman from Dubai 🤩
So there you have it! The ultimate guide to the Dubai visa run via Oman! I see questions about this process weekly and sometimes daily in the Dubai expat groups and I’ve tried to cover it as much as I can.
I would recommend taking your own car if you already have one but if not, the bus is actually a really great option and you may even make some new friends on the journey! If you’ve found this article helpful, feel free to share it with anyone asking about visa runs or buy me a coffee!
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FAQs
Can you do a visa run in Dubai?
Yes, it’s easy to do a visa run in Dubai; however, you must check the type of tourist visa and passport you have to make sure you’re eligible. You’ll then need to decide which method you prefer. Either car, bus, plane or online.
10 comments
if you exit by car. when u arrive back at the dubai border can u ask for a 90 day visa or is it a 30 day visa
The amount of days depends on your passport (some automatically get 90 days) and it may also depend which you go to (Hatta vs RAK), I have never personally heard of someone requesting the 90 day there.
So if you try it, let me know how it goes! I’ll see if I can find any information via groups and online also. I’ll update the article accordingly 🙂
Al dharah crossing has changed,no more walking between borders has to be in car,no more cash accepted either side has to be all by card this up to date as I did it yesterday expecting to walk across but a def no.
Thanks for letting me know, will update the article and see if anyone else was denied walking as well.
am an INDIAN citizen.
holding a 60 days Dubai issued visit visa,
which will expire on feb 20th.
I’ve my own car.
I’ve an Oman issued visit visa of 10 day’s
which cost me 89aed.
can you plz suggest me the best location and procedures to make a visa run sir ?
I was planning to use hatta border blindly cause it’s going to be my first attempt.
Hi Farhan,
I’m really sorry but I’m not sure as an Indian citizen, the information about the crossing and what the process is like is above, to help you work out which is best for you but I cannot advise as an Indian citizen whether you are able to do this type of visa run if this is what you are asking?
There are links above and the Emirates website also has a lot of information about visas. So please check there or visit a government visa center.
Best,
Danni
I recently did a visa run from Dubai to the Hatta border on March 7th, 2024. I took a private taxi service. I’m a US citizen and I’m allowed 30 days plus a 10 day grace period upon arrival. I spoke to the UAE immigration officer and he said that the rule has changed. The only way they’d allow us to pass is if I own my vehicle or if I take the Oman “visa run” bus. They only allowed us to cross because I was with my wife and I have a 20 month old baby. I would seriously caution anyone not taking the “visa run” bus crossing the Hatta border. UAE is CONSTANTLY changing their rules and its very difficult to keep up. if you’re attempting a visa run, I highly recommend speaking to a good UAE visa/travel agency that will provide the most up to date information
Hi Mohamed, thank you for your comment. Hatta, it has never been allowed to walk or to take a car that doesn’t have insurance for Oman as there is a long distance between the UAE immigration office and the Oman immigration office. I’m not sure the private taxi service you took but they should have informed you and made sure the vehicle had Omani insurance. The only crossing where it’s a short distance is via RAK Al Dhara crossing. It’s been that way for 10+ years since I’ve been here, however they are now getting more strict at the Al Dhara crossing.
Thanks for all this valuable information. It’s really helpful. Is there any issue with driving your car across the border yourself if you are still making payments on it?
Sadly, I don’t know anyone personally who’s driven a car with a finance agreement on it. So I’m not sure. If you have proof of ownership and permission from your car insurance along with valid insurance, those are usually the main requirements but it’s a recent development that they’ve got a lot stricter about cars.