Middle East - Renting a car and driving across the UAE/Oman border: allowed?

If we rent a car in Oman, are we allowed to drive across the UAE border and in UAE? We would return the car to where we rented it.

Most car insurance policies in the UAE cover both UAE and Oman, but to be sure just say to your car insurance company at time of renting. There may be a surcharge but as I say normally this is standard. If not, you can buy special insurance for Oman on the border (note: there is a whole process of getting across the border which I'd advise you read up on as if you miss one step it can take ages). You will need to produce a valid insurance document before they'll let you cross.

Thanks. We will be renting in Oman, and would like to see the fort in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, thus the desire to cross the border.

In addition to insurance, I have been asked on occasion for a letter of no objection from the rental company. On the first occasion I didn't have it and had to get it faxed, on the second I asked for it at time of rental and was given one from the top of a huge pile of preprepared letters - so it is obviously a pretty standard requirement.

Thanks. We will be renting in Oman, and would like to see the fort in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, thus the desire to cross the border.
Make sure you go through the Hilli border post in Buraimi, as this is the only one that will let you through.

Thank you for the help from each one above.

Make sure you go through the Hilli border post in Buraimi, as this is the only one that will let you through.

If I want to drive Muscat - Fujurah, UAE - Al Ain, UAE - Oman, Muscat, what crossing do I use to go to Fujurah?

Er, not sure. I was up near the Fujairah-Oman border this weekend but didn't go through.
There's a recent update of some of the borders here:
http://www.uaeclimbing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=771&sid=406954d14b85dcf910e2c8c492018293 but it doesn't mention the one you need.
The LP suggests that the one you want is Khatmat Milahah (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/oman/transport/getting-there-away)

See this too: http://wikitravel.org/en/Oman

Thank you for the help from each one above.



If I want to drive Muscat - Fujurah, UAE - Al Ain, UAE - Oman, Muscat, what crossing do I use to go to Fujurah?

For Fujairah take the main dual carriageway out of Muscat, through Sohar and across at Hatta in the UAE. You can then split off to go to Fujairah.

Isn't there a more direct route up the coast? Or is the Omani border with Fujairah not open to tourists?

Just happened to notice while reserving a car in Oman for my next trip there that some rental companies explicitly say it is allowed (Budget) or disallowed (Sixt), and some charge a fee (at least one company was 75 OMR!) for the privilege.

Just happened to notice while reserving a car in Oman for my next trip there that some rental companies explicitly say it is allowed (Budget) or disallowed (Sixt), and some charge a fee (at least one company was 75 OMR!) for the privilege.

Are you booking in advance? Where do you see this? I've done an advanced booking, and have seen nothing. We don't need a car on immediate arrival but the following day. Should we book once we are in country?

Are you booking in advance? Where do you see this? I've done an advanced booking, and have seen nothing. We don't need a car on immediate arrival but the following day. Should we book once we are in country?

For me it was showing up in the notes on the Penfed Amex travel concierge website.

But the best place to look is by searching for "Location" in any of the major rental outfits, then looking for a link that takes you to additional info about that location. (I tried to post a link to the example on Budget page, but link is not static. But for example, when you get to the Muscat Saeeb location page for Budget, it shows the 'fine print' including 15 OMR additional charge to drive to UAE for up to 7 days.)

Hertz does not show the extra info, but I'm sure you could give them a call. In fact, if you plan to rent from Hertz at MCT, Faisal is one of the guys that works there and he is very nice and very helpful. That's where I've rented when I've flown in to MCT, but next week I am going to SLL.

Hope that helps.