This has probably been posted a few thousand times - but I'll ask it anyhow.
I am about to come to Qatar. I have an Australian and a Saudi drivers license.
Do I need to get a Qatari License and if so what does it take?
That takes me back, Dweller: I learned to drive on dirt tracks in Zambia and took my first driving licence in Kuwait! You understand I am quite well adapted for survival on Qatar roads...
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
A guy called Dave Moreland is teaching me. He is very good and very patient. There are two bars there with reasonable prices and the food isn't bad either.
Yep, over here the QIFF is in force (Qatar Invisible Force Field)
You're born, you take s**t. You get out in the world, you take more s**t. You climb a little higher, you take less s**t. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what s**t even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.
What are the main roads like there? The roads here in Bahrain are crap (generally)- the roads in Riyadh were excellent - huge ring roads and overpasses everywhere as you would expect a system designed by Los Angelinos. The good roads are paradoxically the cause of most of the accidents - always by Saudis doing 200 or so. Saudis also regard their fate as being determined by Allah and not themselves - known as Saudi Logic!
"Plunging onto roundabouts" reminds me of my boss (a national) in Kuwait who was adamant that "the old way" at roundabouts was better than the "new way" in which the vehicle on the roundabout had right of way.
I asked him what he would do under the old method at such as Messilah Beach Roundabout (negotiable at 90kph) if another car was approaching from a different direction?
His answer..............accelerate! When I asked him why he would accelerate he replied "to get there first". His logic for this was that if he arrived first and the other car hit him it was the other driver's fault. What became known as Kuwaiti logic!
I think you'll find Qatari and Indian drivers here give the Saudis a good run for their money in the reckless endangerment stakes. especial fun are the roundabouts. the technique favoured here is to plunge straight in without looking.
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
Said tongue in cheek no doubt Rochester - they are the worst drivers possible - terrorism pales into insignificance compared to the daily danger from Saudi Drivers.
I think you'll find they will convert your Australian licence. The issue is that its your NATIONAL licence they will accept.
The Qatari traffic police told me the only Gulf licences they like are the ones from UAE and Bahrain. Not that Saudi drivers have a bad reputation or anything...
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
Your drivers licence is instantly convertible into a Qatar licence, since they know Australians are such polite, respectful drivers. Your company should look after it for you. Get an International before leaving Oz to cover the interim while they process it. 'Instantly' is one of those culturally relative words which might have a different meaning over here.
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
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That takes me back, Dweller: I learned to drive on dirt tracks in Zambia and took my first driving licence in Kuwait! You understand I am quite well adapted for survival on Qatar roads...
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
Stevie Wonder.
Hi david: go past Qatar University and take the road for Al Khor. It's signposted on the left.
The bar is open to the public, if like me you can't afford to be a member!
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
Stevie Wonder.
A guy called Dave Moreland is teaching me. He is very good and very patient. There are two bars there with reasonable prices and the food isn't bad either.
I have never played it - my kids are in childrens golf here in Bahrain and I've decided it's time I joined them (big kids golf).
Are the lessons good?
The bar will come in handy too.
I have been taking group lessons and it works out at about 250QR per hour. The facilities are excellent.
I've seen photos of it on the web - looks like a veritable palace.
can you tell me where it is - maybe someone could place a marker for this on the Doha map?
Pothole research is well know for his research of potholes in the street of Doha.
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds..
Yep, over here the QIFF is in force (Qatar Invisible Force Field)
You're born, you take s**t. You get out in the world, you take more s**t. You climb a little higher, you take less s**t. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what s**t even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.
What are the main roads like there? The roads here in Bahrain are crap (generally)- the roads in Riyadh were excellent - huge ring roads and overpasses everywhere as you would expect a system designed by Los Angelinos. The good roads are paradoxically the cause of most of the accidents - always by Saudis doing 200 or so. Saudis also regard their fate as being determined by Allah and not themselves - known as Saudi Logic!
"Plunging onto roundabouts" reminds me of my boss (a national) in Kuwait who was adamant that "the old way" at roundabouts was better than the "new way" in which the vehicle on the roundabout had right of way.
I asked him what he would do under the old method at such as Messilah Beach Roundabout (negotiable at 90kph) if another car was approaching from a different direction?
His answer..............accelerate! When I asked him why he would accelerate he replied "to get there first". His logic for this was that if he arrived first and the other car hit him it was the other driver's fault. What became known as Kuwaiti logic!
I think you'll find Qatari and Indian drivers here give the Saudis a good run for their money in the reckless endangerment stakes. especial fun are the roundabouts. the technique favoured here is to plunge straight in without looking.
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
Stevie Wonder.
Said tongue in cheek no doubt Rochester - they are the worst drivers possible - terrorism pales into insignificance compared to the daily danger from Saudi Drivers.
Thanks for info - I assume no test is required?
I think you'll find they will convert your Australian licence. The issue is that its your NATIONAL licence they will accept.
The Qatari traffic police told me the only Gulf licences they like are the ones from UAE and Bahrain. Not that Saudi drivers have a bad reputation or anything...
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
Stevie Wonder.
No need for international one. Your GCC license (Saudi)is authomatically valid for 60 days and can be instantly converted in Qatari license
incidentally, the golf club is nice, but expensive; about 30 000 rials a year.
http://www.dohagolfclub.com/
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
Stevie Wonder.
Your drivers licence is instantly convertible into a Qatar licence, since they know Australians are such polite, respectful drivers. Your company should look after it for you. Get an International before leaving Oz to cover the interim while they process it. 'Instantly' is one of those culturally relative words which might have a different meaning over here.
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
Stevie Wonder.