{"id":1004,"date":"2023-01-26T17:27:46","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T13:27:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gstraveladventure.com\/?p=1004"},"modified":"2023-01-26T23:34:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T19:34:17","slug":"motorbike-trip-from-oman-to-saudi-arabia-uae-kuwait-and-bahrain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gstraveladventure.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/26\/motorbike-trip-from-oman-to-saudi-arabia-uae-kuwait-and-bahrain\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorbike trip from Oman to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain 11-19 Jan 2023."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There was actually almost no planning and minimal preparation for this trip. We knew we wanted to be on the Jan 15th around Dammam for the 2023 Dakar Finish and knew that we would not have enough time to do western part of Saudi Arabia but other than we were free. Fortunately, the weather forecast was good – it rained a few times in recent weeks – so we planned to leave 7am the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since as per plan, things often go differently than planned we started our day at ROP where Artur had to get his new motorcycle license (mulkiya) as he lost it somewhere. Thankfully, getting a new one was as simple as dropping by for milk to a grocery shop. Public services run really well here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just before departure. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Light packing this time with no camping gear – only a small sleeping bag just in case.
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\u201cTata\u201d – Dad\u2019s bike signed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With hugs and kisses from the family we left Muscat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And a send-off bite from Artur\u2019s wife Patrycja.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After some 500 km riding and a smooth Omand\/UAE border crossing we reached Jabel Jais Entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jabel Jais Entrance\/UAE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Curves of Jabel Jais.

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Riding up and down Jabel Jais was very pleasant and compared to Al Jabel Al Akhdar in Oman more enjoyable going down where we could have some speed rather than continuously breaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Artur got a better heart from the Kenyan lady…
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Barztna coffee shop almost at the top of Jabel Jais \/UAE.
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Sitting space by the cafeteria.
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Beautiful curves.
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Interestingly, Jabel Jais is a home to the world largest zipline – certainly on the list especially that is so close by: https:\/\/visitjebeljais.com\/adrenaline\/jais-flight\/
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We continued to Dubai for the night. We reached Sharjah just before the dark where we had the best food during our entire trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Arrival in Sharjah, Dubai.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the dinner we went out for a 6km walk around Sharjah corniche road – it was interesting to see this part of Dubai – for me it was the first time in this area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sharjah by night.
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And more<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Day 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We started Day 2 with a tour around the Dubai\u2019s Corniche road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Good morning Dubai!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Along the route we saw some huge residences and\u2026 this guy was coming out of water \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Emerging Men \ud83d\ude42<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After Corniche road we left Dubai and headed to Abu Dhabi with a small detour through Yas Scenic route to arrive for a nice coffee at Arabica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ferrari World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Abu Dhabi Louvre.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Riding in Dubai was really challenging to say the least. Especially, during morning rush hours in the center with endless lane changes and connecting roads.
We had racers changing lanes diagonally from left to right or right to left, Indians looking for some sort of revenge on smaller and more vulnerable, angry ladies in newest V8 Nissan Patrols who apparently were missing something from life and needed to show some sort of domination, as well as all the rest who simply treat motorcyclists invisible. This – it turned out – was just a warm up to what was waiting for us in Riyadh.
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With close calls from front, back, left and right at some point we really felt endangered – thankfully after some minutes the traffic receded and we were off on 140 km\/h highway to Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Arabica caffe in Abu Dhabi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In front of the cafe we learned that apparently it is not very legal to park bikes on a walkway, so after a brief coffee we headed west towards Saudi border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bye bye Abu Dhabi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We wanted to visit The Presidential Palace, but unfortunately it was closed for some rehearsals. We also saw a parade with rows of camels and horses and people holding Korean and UAE’s flags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan was to reach Al Dhannah City for lunch and then continue west to Sila town for overnight before crossing the border the next day.
Before we reached Dhannah we took an off-road detour to see what the coast in this area looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Somewhere between Abu Dhabi and Dhannah.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Going back to the highway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some one hour later we reached Dhannah. But before we met an Italian cyclist who was on his 9-month trip, sleeping in his tent or abandoned gas stations (those are plenty in Saudi Arabia) and enjoying the Middle East. We are all travellers – some just take it to another level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meeting with an Italian cyclists.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For kilometres there is nothing along the road. The only ‘point of interest’ was a nuclear plant Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (no picture, but link here: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Barakah_nuclear_power_plant<\/a>) which was huge with its enormous four reactors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then we arrived at Al Ruways industrial city – again a strange experience – nothing around for kilometres and then suddenly a city emerges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Residential estate with view on Al Ruways Industrial City.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They even had a golf course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Golf course – some managers must live here too.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Souq in Al Dhannah.
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After having reviewed all open restaurants this turned out to be our selection – Sniper Burger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lunch\/dinner on Day 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After food and 2nd coffee we continued to Sila with hope of finding some place to sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To our surprise there was no accommodation in Sila despite Google maps showing at least 7 different places. We tried to talk to some locals, but with little common language we gave up and decided to sleep on Saudi side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trying not to get lost in Sila.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n