The Road to MAKKAH & MEDINA 4,186 KM

Road Trips / Vacations / Hiking / Trekking

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kn_khipk (kn_khipk) 2013-05-03 02:43:21 +0500 #21

Fi Amaan Allah!

saint20 (saint20) 2013-05-03 03:29:33 +0500 #22

MASHA ALLAH....bro...many congrats and have a safe journey back....plz do keep me and my family in your special prayers...

unware (unware) 2013-05-03 03:54:58 +0500 #23

yea those cameras are pretty fool proof to dodge. Single click (flash) means that you are busted while double click (flash) is a warning sign. But remember as soon as you cross one camera then you can use my signatures lol

Fi Aman Allah

faraz74 (faraz74) 2013-05-03 03:55:03 +0500 #24

please remember PAKISTAN in your prayers... Have a safe journey...

aqs29 (aqs29) 2013-05-03 04:06:34 +0500 #25

Quite an informative Thread

ehalin (ehalin) 2013-05-03 04:08:41 +0500 #26

Done the same journey many times. Good luck and remember Pakistan in your prayers.

MultaniTraveler (MultaniTraveler) 2013-05-03 04:28:22 +0500 #27

Drive safe. And pray for all of us.

asifcae (asifcae) 2013-05-03 04:42:02 +0500 #28

Masha Allah

BILAL3538 (BILAL3538) 2013-05-03 04:45:56 +0500 #29

Mashallah, So lucky

unware (unware) 2013-05-03 04:59:22 +0500 #30

Just putting some info which I think may help you. Take precautions while entering and exiting riyadh (if u do) special check point and radars near that area.
Then once you pass Jeddah, Makkah will be around 83kms, pay attention to sign board 'Sail-Kabeer' exit, people miss that. You have to take that exit and it will take you to Meeqaat.
Once you set off from Meeqat to Makkah, you will enjoy the road (mother of all salt ranges), thats what I call it.
Road from Makkah to Madina is known for tickets and pull overs. Some people think that Saudi police wont pull over people in 'Ehraam' but thats a myth which got busted many times
Once you enter Makkah, I would suggest to park your car near to SAUDI POST, thats the 'Safa-Marwa' side of Haram. Other side (near to Royal Palace) is very congested due to all Desi restaurants. I reckon you park your car near 'Saudi Post' and then cross Haram to reach other side.
If you leave madina and take 'Burayda' or 'Qaseem' highway then you can relax a little, not too many cameras and radars in that piece of road. I went for Umra in December 2012 and was one of those lucky guys who was drenched in rain while performing 'Tawaf-e-Wida'.

Thats all what I can recall ..... will let you know if something else pops up.

Never mind the last picture, its actually a faulty gauge (A)

Shahzad727 (Shahzad727) 2013-05-03 05:16:14 +0500 #31

mashallah.poorani yadain taza ho gayee hein.when i was there in 2010.

Janj (Janj) 2013-05-03 05:21:49 +0500 #32

Thank you all for the wishes, will pray especially for all of you & Pakistan.

Shahzad727 (Shahzad727) 2013-05-03 05:27:48 +0500 #33

thanks brother.gud luck .

Janj (Janj) 2013-05-03 05:28:26 +0500 #34

[I]@unware Great info, please share maximum info available, specially any point you remember for refueling, workshop or tire repairing shops. you are driving on 20 km/h from the right side of speedo:)

Regards[/I]

Janj (Janj) 2013-05-03 05:43:20 +0500 #35

Update: After vehicle pass the test you need to apply for insurance & (Mulkiya) registration, friday is off in UAE so i have to wait till tomorrow morning.

unware (unware) 2013-05-03 06:00:36 +0500 #36

^^ Habibi I will do my best to provide you with maximum info.

I dunno about Dubai but in saudi u will find 100s of gas stations scattered along both sides of road. As you already know 'Muhatta' and 'Istaraha' ..... about fuelling you dont have to specifically choose a gas station, all are good and fuel quality is great. I had a rental car and I filled 'MUMTAZ' which is '95' grade petrol just to check the performance and fuel average but then in Saudi no one really cares about average coz of petrol being dirt cheap, rather sand cheap ....

Everyother gas station has 'Pakistani Hotel' boards and you will find friendly pathans there ...... for istaraha (motels) look for AlDress pump stations, they are of good standards. Dont hold your breath for an outclass motel besides Makkah highway as there is none cuz mostly these hotels are max one or two night stands. You will find 'Mikaniki' (Mechanic), 'Kaharbai' (Electrician), and 'Mutjir Ataraat' (Tyre shop) almost on every gas stations, other than the haunted ones so dont worry about any mechanical issues.
My practice is I try to grab the number of nearest Recovery Truck available from the last gas station I get my tank fill up. This way you know how long will it take in case your vehicle breaks down.
You can easily buy (as per consent) ehraam for gents especially, belts, chappal, purse, etc. so I woudnt worry about those.

Last but not the least, make sure you keep at least two cell fones, its easy to get lost in crowd and cell fones are of major help. Keep minimum cash with you and Alhamdulillah in Saudi you can keep your belongings in your car without any doubt. Not to mention but DO NOT LOSE CAR KEYS ...... thats the last thing you want.

In Makkah make sure you park your car at designated car parking, otherwise the 'Kind Saudi Police' will tow it from there and you have to spend hours and hours to get it back. In Madina you will be amazed to see car parking lots. Tons of them there and easy to get.

Ok brother now its jumma prayer time.

Later

ahmadbila (ahmadbila) 2013-05-03 06:03:05 +0500 #37

Excellent thread! would keep on visiting. i wonder how would it be to drive from UAE to Europe. Should be fun.

ehalin (ehalin) 2013-05-03 07:14:57 +0500 #38

some additional tips (some from personal experiences,) excuse if there is some repitition:

Do not overspeed. You are not on an official trip with time limits. Your "sawab" has already started since you did the "niyat" for Umrah.
Wear seat belts including all passengers front or rear.
Always stop when feeling sleepy and take a nap or some rest.
Also pull up during a sand-storm, thunderstorm or heavy rain. Do not be tempted to keep on driving which happens with many drivers. It is safer to take a stop at a rest area. Have some tea or call home. Most sandstorms pass within minutes.
Do not follow trucks or bigger vehicles too closely.
Keep some extra water with you.
Check your cars tire pressures regularly. Purchase your own air pressure guage. Tire shop guages area almost always un-reliable and will never prompt you about a puncture tire.
Use "taghbeerah" if you don't want your cars front end sand blasted. Use the transparent one; even on your cars headlights. Or if you want to be more cautious put 3M protective sheet on headlights.
In KSA try not to keep any thing valuable visible from outside in your vehicle. Petty thefts are common where thieves break window glass and steal mobile phones, purses, cameras or sunglasses left in the cars.
Unlike UAE and more like Pakistan, you will see many police check posts in KSA especially while entering or leaving bigger cities. Alwasy respect a Saudi "Shurta." Never argue if your Arabic is weak. Always comply what he says even if he asks you to stop in the middle of a speedway. Turn off your cars radio while talking with him.
Do enjoy "bait-ul-shawaya" or "albaik." Remember only those people travel to Hijaz who have a "bulawa" from there. So you should be happy and enjoy Allah's and His Rasool's feast. The "Manasik" or rituals shoud not make you worried, tensed or angry. Many people fall into this caveat. Keep on smiling.

unware;3857816:

^^ Habibi I will do my best to provide you with maximum info.

I dunno about Dubai but in saudi u will find 100s of gas stations scattered along both sides of road. As you already know 'Muhatta' and 'Istaraha' ..... about fuelling you dont have to specifically choose a gas station, all are good and fuel quality is great. I had a rental car and I filled 'MUMTAZ' which is '95' grade petrol just to check the performance and fuel average but then in Saudi no one really cares about average coz of petrol being dirt cheap, rather sand cheap ....

Everyother gas station has 'Pakistani Hotel' boards and you will find friendly pathans there ...... for istaraha (motels) look for AlDress pump stations, they are of good standards. Dont hold your breath for an outclass motel besides Makkah highway as there is none cuz mostly these hotels are max one or two night stands. You will find 'Mikaniki' (Mechanic), 'Kaharbai' (Electrician), and 'Mutjir Ataraat' (Tyre shop) almost on every gas stations, other than the haunted ones so dont worry about any mechanical issues.
My practice is I try to grab the number of nearest Recovery Truck available from the last gas station I get my tank fill up. This way you know how long will it take in case your vehicle breaks down.
You can easily buy (as per consent) ehraam for gents especially, belts, chappal, purse, etc. so I woudnt worry about those.

Last but not the least, make sure you keep at least two cell fones, its easy to get lost in crowd and cell fones are of major help. Keep minimum cash with you and Alhamdulillah in Saudi you can keep your belongings in your car without any doubt. Not to mention but DO NOT LOSE CAR KEYS ...... thats the last thing you want.

In Makkah make sure you park your car at designated car parking, otherwise the 'Kind Saudi Police' will tow it from there and you have to spend hours and hours to get it back. In Madina you will be amazed to see car parking lots. Tons of them there and easy to get.

Ok brother now its jumma prayer time.

Later

zahid135 (Zahid Latif) 2013-05-03 07:34:23 +0500 #39

Masha'Allah.......

emmaar (emmaar) 2013-05-03 13:51:08 +0500 #40

So, BULAWA is confirmed, Mubarak ho aor Allah hazri ko qabool farmae:)