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Post by manulike on Nov 5, 2022 15:54:30 GMT
Forgive me for duplicating this, but thought is would be easier for people to have most of the info here.
There is a free multiple entry visa and the Oman Air Match-Day shuttle (code "QATAR2022") is the cheapest still available - at £112 RETURN.
WIZZ AIR still have super cheap flights from Europe to ABU DHABI for circa €50-€70 one-way.
WIZZ also fly from AD to MUSCAT daily around 5pm for UNDER £10.
They also fly from AD to Dammam in Saudi Arabia for similar carzy prices! (see Saudi free visa at the very end!)
The Omanis offer a FREE 60-day multiple entry - but you must apply in advance via - evisa.rop.gov.om/en/apply-for-a-visaThey seem to accept pretty much all the jpg images that I used for the Hayya Card (passport photo / passport main page photo / screen-shot of travel tickets and image of accommodation confirmation - all good and well. The only stumbling block was that they wanted a PDF image format of the Hayya Card. At first I tried sending the QR thing from the app and then snap of the PC Hayya card - both were rejected.
HOW TO CREATE A PDF
If you dont have Adobe - you can just start from a jpg or png photo.
Open that image in PHOTOS and then click on your PRINT icon.
The first option in the new window is "Convert to Pdf" - then just press print and the next window will allow you to Save As etc.
To be fair, their prossesing time is really good and I seem to get responces from them within 12 hours or so ...
OMAN AIR ARE NOW ONLY £112 RETURN FOR MATCH DAY SHUTTLES. I have been monitering the Match-Day shuttles since September and they have always been £200-£240 return. Most of the one-way flights into Doha from that area are closer to £300! They still are on Saudi, Etihad, Qatar Air etc. Not quite sure what, but as of today, Oman Air are 49 OR return, with plenty of availabilty - circa £112. You might need to enter code - QATAR2022 - www.omanair.com/gbl/enMuscat still have plenty of 2 star hotels for £30/night and I wrote about the free multiple entry visa on the HAYYA CARD thread. THE DATE OF TRAVEL ON TICKETS CAN BE CHANGEDPRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF JOURNEY WITH USD 30 CHANGE FEE ONTO OTHER MATCH DAY SHUTTLE FLIGHTS FOR THE SAME PASSENGER ONLY. Hope this is useful - it sure did save me about £500 ;+) |
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Post by manulike on Nov 5, 2022 15:58:08 GMT
If you are using Wizz Air via Abu Dhabi, you might want to consider a side trip to the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia. They only fly currently to Dammam (DMM). Abu Dhabi to DMM is under £10 !
Saudi Air has £112 (each way, at the moment!) Match-Day shuttles. Saudi Arabia e-visa is valid also for 60-days multiple entry (entry before 18 December and stay until 10 Jan 23) BUT THERE IS A COMPULSORY USD $24 Medical Insurance. VISA WAS INSTANTLY APROVED AND EMAILED. No proof of air tickets or accommodation needed. I inserted "hotel" for residence in SA. "none" for any countries visited in last five years ... "various" for form of transport "united kingdom" for second passport "123" for Zip and PO Box visa.mofa.gov.sa/Account/Loginindividuals?hayya=hayya |
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Post by manulike on Nov 5, 2022 19:33:43 GMT
I found a Vodafone deal available at Muscat airport (RED Premium) that gives you 28 days of roaming in all GCC including UAE, Qatar, Saudi and most of Europe! (including 300 free minutes including to the UK) and 15gb data for £20... www.vodafone.om/plans |
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Post by cantonwelsh79 on Nov 7, 2022 7:49:29 GMT
Thanks for this.
How easy quick does that E-visa get approved? I'm staying in Doha but fancy Oman after the England game. (Hopefully I'll be needing the match day shuttle for the R16!) Was going to book it when we had a clearer picture of qualification prospects.
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Post by felinessex on Nov 7, 2022 13:27:30 GMT
Did mine Saturday night. Approval came through Sunday afternoon.
My attachments were pretty rubbish to be fair. Just screen grabs of hotel, flight bookings and Hyya in jpeg off my phone.
I expected to get knocked back and have to re-submit.
(Worked out after submitting and preparing for a knock back, that you can pdf docs on iphone in Files. Browse files, hit the 3 dots top rh of screen, scan document, job done)
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Post by manulike on Nov 7, 2022 23:31:56 GMT
I agree.
Oman visa around 12 hours, but with me they really wanted the Hayya in pdf format.
The Saudi visa was pretty instant - not need for hotel or air tickets (just the US$24 for insurance)
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Post by manulike on Nov 10, 2022 10:41:46 GMT
NEW DECLARATION SAUDI GOV - BUS NOW PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE ALL THE WAY to AS SALWAFIFA have already declared a couple of weeks ago that there will be free shuttle buses from DOHA to the border crossing at ABU SAMRA. Now the Saudis indicating that they will provide cross-border transport for the ADDITIONAL NINE KM to the Saudi border town of AS SALWA (aka Salwa Port). From here it is only 150km to the UNSECO site of Al Hasa Oasis / Al Hofuf. From where there are plenty of TRAINS to Riyadh and 6 daily buses and trains to Dammam.
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THERE IS A BUS SALWA-AL HASA (Aka. Al AHSA)??
www.habertusba.com/special-procedures-for-the-transport-of-world-cup-fans-through-the-port-of-salva/
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Post by manulike on Nov 13, 2022 19:44:40 GMT
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Post by manulike on Nov 14, 2022 22:38:47 GMT
SAUDI BUS SERVICE - NOW THERE IS A REGULAR ONE-WAY BUS ALL THE WAY FROM THE King Abdullah City for Dates in Al-Ahsa TO Doha for £23 (115 SAR) - from where you can link train and bus to Riyad and Dammam. www.saptco.com.sa/Offers/world-cup-qatar-2022.aspx?lang=en-US (note that the time-table should be read right to left ... its in Arabic ...) |
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Post by Cymru. on Nov 15, 2022 18:49:36 GMT
Do you need a visa for oman if you are staying less than 14 days but travelling between Qatar and Oman on matchday flights for all 3 group games.
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Post by felinessex on Nov 15, 2022 23:16:07 GMT
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Post by felinessex on Nov 16, 2022 15:58:33 GMT
May be worth a look if staying in Muscat. Free entry to the VIP zone at the fan festival Football Fan Festival VIP @ Crowne Plaza OCEC The Football Fan Festival VIP & Crowne Plaza OCEC will offer guests the chance to experience the World Cup in luxurious surroundings. with exceptional food and drink away from the hustle and bustle of the main Football Fan Festival. Hayya Card Holders: All HAYYA Card holders will receive entry free of charge with proof of HAYYA Card. www.footballfanfestival.om/vip |
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Post by manulike on Nov 18, 2022 13:06:23 GMT
WIZZ AIR IN ABU DHABI DHABI AND MUSCAT AIRPORTS.
A quick word of warning. Both these airports do not accept online check in for wizzair flights. So you Must check in and then get a PRINTOUT confirmation and take that to the SUPER SLOW wizzair check in desk for them to issue you with a old fashioned boarding card. I waited 2 hours in line for the boarding card in Abu Dhabi and then breezed through security in 10 minutes...
You should probably allow at least three full hours if using wizz between these two countries. ... $US10 still on most days
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Post by felinessex on Nov 18, 2022 17:34:03 GMT
Just boarding with Lufthansa at City airport, bound for Muscat via Zurich.
They wouldn’t let me board without a visa ( although one is deffo not needed for stay of up to 14 days.)
Luckily I had the Hyya Oman visa which was for the matchday shuttles.
Would have been watching us on the telly at home if I didn’t have it with me.
No visa, no fly, they sang to me.
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Post by manulike on Nov 18, 2022 19:38:50 GMT
Certainly worth getting the free multiple entry visa.
I arrived to Muscat friday evening and the immigration official was very clear that you specifically need it, if using the shuttles. They also checked my Hayya card very carefully.
There is a "KIOSK" dispensing machine just before immigration, where you can get a free CODE for AIRPORT WiFi. No Wi-Fi without it!
If you want a local SIM that covers Qatar and all other GCC countries, the VODAFONE is near BAGGAGE COLLECTION area. I missed it and after customs there's only a OmanTel, which is totally useless outside Oman.
The Airport bus A1 is at level 0, just outside the terminal - 500 baisa CASH ONLY... a refreshing change from UAE ... The ATM machine dispense 5 rial notes.
Bon voyage!
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Post by felinessex on Nov 19, 2022 7:29:20 GMT
Certainly worth getting the free multiple entry visa. I arrived to Muscat friday evening and the immigration official was very clear that you specifically need it, if using the shuttles. They also checked my Hayya card very carefully. There is a "KIOSK" dispensing machine just before immigration, where you can get a free CODE for AIRPORT WiFi. No Wi-Fi without it! If you want a local SIM that covers Qatar and all other GCC countries, the VODAFONE is near BAGGAGE COLLECTION area. I missed it and after customs there's only a OmanTel, which is totally useless outside Oman. The Airport bus A1 is at level 0, just outside the terminal - 500 baisa CASH ONLY... a refreshing change from UAE ... The ATM machine dispense 5 rial notes. Bon voyage! Found the Vodaphone kiosk, sorted thanks. Muscat airport like a deserted Taj Mahal on arrival this morning. Duty free shop raided for the full allowance (48 cans) of beer. Job done. |
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Post by manulike on Nov 19, 2022 10:34:01 GMT
OMAN SIM UPDATE
The absolute only deal in town is Vodafone - I tried all other outlets now. Red Bull is a total waste of time outside Oman. Ooredoo have a World Cup 7 days for 7 riel - it's only good for Qatar and only give you 14 minutes of call time there.
If you only need Qatar plus oman - Vodafone have plenty of 2 and 4 riel World Cup deals - but only valid for 14 DAYS...
Vodafone RED Premium for 28 days cost 8rl (£17) gives you 10gb (GCC) + 5gb additional data in Oman for social data plus 300 mins GCC incl. Local calls in the GCC country itself (or to Oman from the GCC) this also includes a handful of other countries (turkey, Europe and a few others in Asia). This package does NOT include any SMS / texting and will not allow you to call internationally (unless you are inside that country - Qatar / Saudi etc).
Elite costs 16rl and it also permits Int calling and texting
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Post by manulike on Nov 19, 2022 12:12:52 GMT
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Post by manulike on Nov 20, 2022 6:40:41 GMT
OMAN AIR... inshallah...
Oman Air keep on telling me "inshallah, don't worry" about my flight to Qatar at 12 noon tomorrow - booking disappeared, then re-appeared and now it says "no seats available" when trying to check in online...
The so called customer service lady tells that I'm right, and that she also can't seem to check me in .. She advises to try another browser or maybe again later... but I should not worry. God is Mighty...
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Post by manulike-1 on Nov 23, 2022 7:28:27 GMT
NEW OVERNIGHT BUS FROM DUBAI TO RIYADH in case people get stuck for options for over knock out stages... Dubai to Riyadh daily departure on the Saudi nation bus service SAPTCO cost 250 SAR (£55) one-way dep Dubai 3PM arrive RIYADH (al azziziya) at 5AM. Going the other way - it dept Riyadh at 4PM and arrives into Dubai at 0530AM the RETURN full fare is 380 SAR (£85). saptco.com.sa/TripReservation/Search.aspx . |
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Post by manulike on Nov 23, 2022 9:37:03 GMT
THERE IS ANOTHER DAILY BUS TO ABU DHABI (New Shahamah) which is two hours shorter (12h overnight).
Dept Abu Dhabi-New Shahamah at 4.45PM and arrive RIYADH (al azzaziyh) at 4.50AM same price as Dubai, above.
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Post by manulike on Dec 31, 2022 17:25:11 GMT
Looks like that man Cristiano has been reading our posts here.
I ended up with 12 days in Saudi - really loved it. Fascinating country and lovely people. Jeddah is a stunning city.
Surprisingly relaxed about trans-gender issues and no one batted an eye-lid about me wearing shorts.
Super clued-up, accepting and accommodating of people with disabilities.
A true breath of fresh air - especially in conparison to that God forsaken s..t hole qatar!
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