Hi All.
I’ve just been asked to quote on a 7.5t job to Muscat,(in 2008).I don’t want to invest in a rake of maps of North Africa just for one job,so can anyone advise me of the best route and distance,permits required,etc?.It’s one of our regular Clients so I know they are at least half serious.I’ve never done anything going that way,so I’m scratching my head over this,to say the least…
Lance
I thought Muscat was in Oman 
Not Africa 
Turn right at Oostende and follow a star.
It happened before with some wise men
Wheel Nut:
Turn right at Oostende and follow a star.It happened before with some wise men
I can’t get incense or myrrh on me diesel card though…
Robbies Dad:
I thought Muscat was in OmanNot Africa
Muscat is in Oman,(hence the title of the thread).I was thinking a possible route might have been down to Italy and across to Egypt,( North Africa),then Saudi/Oman.Was trying to avoid Syria/Iraq etc…
if your looking at transiting iraq you´ve got problems apart from the obvious safety issues, the turkish/iraq border at the moment is a problem with the security issues with the kurds. also to transit iraq with a uk registered truck would be a big no no, all non arab trucks are escorted by the us military or private security companies but they are going to military bases but even then you´ve no refuelling facilities at all unless you want to go into a major town for fuel and you run the risk of ied´s, efps(electronically fired projectiles) and rpg´s and the normal day to day run ins with iraqi army & police checkpoints but otherwise iraq is a nice country to drive thru. if you let me know when your headed this way i´m sure me and neil46 will keep and eye out for you.
dieseldan340:
Robbies Dad:
I thought Muscat was in OmanNot Africa
Muscat is in Oman,(hence the title of the thread).I was thinking a possible route might have been down to Italy and across to Egypt,( North Africa),then Saudi/Oman.Was trying to avoid Syria/Iraq etc…
You’ll need a ‘left ■■■■■■’ to transit Syria.
If they’re a good customer get a quote off Astran, sub it to them & take a cut.
Ross,
dieseldan340:
…Muscat is in Oman,(hence the title of the thread).I was thinking a possible route might have been down to Italy and across to Egypt,( North Africa),then Saudi/Oman.Was trying to avoid Syria/Iraq etc…
Dan, theres a chap on here by the name of bestbooties,you can find him on the search button above…he is an old time M/E driver and on one of his posts im sure he mentioned trying to take a back load from somewhere down that way back to Tunisia (I think!!). He mentioned going back through Egypt and across North Africa but it couldnt be done…something to do with transiting Isreal I believe, send him a PM, im sure he could give you a few pointers.
Try typing middle east into the search button, there are quite a few lads on here who have done it and will be in a position to offer some sound advice.
Good luck if you do it!!
bigr250:
dieseldan340:
Robbies Dad:
I thought Muscat was in OmanNot Africa
Muscat is in Oman,(hence the title of the thread).I was thinking a possible route might have been down to Italy and across to Egypt,( North Africa),then Saudi/Oman.Was trying to avoid Syria/Iraq etc…
You’ll need a ‘left ■■■■■■’ to transit Syria.
If they’re a good customer get a quote off Astran, sub it to them & take a cut.
Ross,
It’s a wait-3-days-and return conference job,so it’s either us or sub it to another specialist in the game,(events/concerts/etc).Looks like the best way might be Greece,across the Med to Alexandria,(assuming there’s a ferry,of course),then Saudi Arabia down to Oman.Sound about do-able?practical?.Alternative suggestions are most welcome…
Airfreight it and Fly out there to supervise 
I used to work for a ships stores Co in the early 80’s who delivered to Suez and shipped from Reggio Calabria and via various ports in the Med’ landed at Alexandria for the drive to the port of Suez.
I never did the Egypt run (Derek Hart & Ronnie Royle where are you?)) so have no real knowledge but I’ve never heard of anyone going this route to Saudi, but that probably means that hundreds of people have been doing it!!
Good luck, take a camera.
Ross.
If its only a 7.5 tonner worth of gear, you should ship it in a container or fly it.
A lot less hassel. You can not transit saudi with right hand drive. If the timing is right it is only 17 days to ship by sea.
I can get you a quote either way if you PM me.
diesel dan try pwc logistics they are big company out in middle east and own geo logistics in the uk.
I was in Saudi Arabia for many years and drove into and out of the country many times and also took the ferry from Egypt to Saudi
As regards paperwork, you’ll need a carnet de passage for the truck. Find out from the relevant consulates what cargo papers you need.
Jordan and Syria are fantastic countries, particularly Jordan. The people are amazingly generous and helpful.
Suggest strongly you don’t transit Egypt. Took me twelve hours to get my car in - and I was in front of others because of my Arabic. There was a Syrian trucker sitting beside me been at customs for two days. He’d refused to bribe the border guards with a box of cherries! His cargo was slowly turning into kirsch in the heat!
The safest and easiest route through Saudi would NOT be the shortest one. Enter Saudi at Aqaba and take the coast road to Jeddah. From Jeddah take the Desert Highway to Riyadh and then onto Oman through UAE.
If you’re looking for a driver’s mate, I speak fluent Arabic and I’ve done the trip from Jeddah to UK. Know the route - AND how to get through Saudi customs with least hassle.
Wheel Nut:
Turn right at Oostende and follow a star.It happened before with some wise men
NO! He knoweth not of what he speaketh! This route will lead you into the badlands of the EU and into the arms of ungodly women, consumption of alcohol and other unspeakable things. Suggest you leave this for the return trip when time might not be so much of an issue.
The “follow a star” route ONLY works if you’re coming from the east (somewhere near Baghdad would be good) AND riding a camel. Coming from Milton Keynes in a truck and it just won’t work. You also need to find two other wise men to accompany you. You take the gold and let the other two worry about the incense and myrrh. It’s tricky to find good quality stuff at a good price these days.
Shortfatbaldy:
Wheel Nut:
Turn right at Oostende and follow a star.It happened before with some wise men
NO! He knoweth not of what he speaketh! This route will lead you into the badlands of the EU and into the arms of ungodly women, consumption of alcohol and other unspeakable things. Suggest you leave this for the return trip when time might not be so much of an issue.
The “follow a star” route ONLY works if you’re coming from the east (somewhere near Baghdad would be good) AND riding a camel. Coming from Milton Keynes in a truck and it just won’t work. You also need to find two other wise men to accompany you. You take the gold and let the other two worry about the incense and myrrh. It’s tricky to find good quality stuff at a good price these days.
LOLOL Nice one
Thanks for the advice,all.If it happens,(middle of 2008 apparently),you can be sure I’ll post some foties/storys on here…
i’d just say do plenty of homework if you do end up seriously looking at doing it, we’re loading a big machine in cheshire on wednesday for salalah in oman - but doing it the boring way, ferry from antwerp! 
Hi Deisel dan340
I Just read your thread.
If you do go and avoid Syria, then beware because the Saudis have also banned right hand drive vehicles.
If you have a left hand drive vehicle then the best overland route would be down to Ancona, ferry to Patras, Greece, then drive up to Ipsala border into Turkey, down to Cilvegozu / Bab el Hawa, into Syria. The Border Customs clearing agent Wattar will magically turn your ATA or TIR Carnet into an Arab manifest, which will take you all the way to Muscat, via Jordan, Saudi and UAE. You will need a Carnet de Passage for your truck and make sure that it has enough pages to get you down and back. Take some spare tyres and a jack and wheel brace, there are no tyre services like the ones you know.
Good luck.
GS
Whilst this might be completely boring and nowhere near as exciting, have you considered approaching a removal company. They would be able to arrange loading in the uk, or just site the container if you wanted to load it.
Agents could be arranged to unload it and set up and then three days later they load the container and ship it back.
I appreciate I would much rather have the challenge of going overland but in a practical sense this would be slightly longer (i’m guessing) but must be a damned sight cheaper and a lot less hassle.