I'm putting together some ideas and costs for driving my 1996 Jeep Cherokee back to the UK from Dubai sometime this year. It's not worth much apart from sentimental value, but is reliable enough to make the trip home, and I intend on making some sort of story around it to help sponsor the trip back.

I'm just kicking ideas on route and costs around at the moment.

The route will probably be Dubai, through Saudi, Egypt, ferry from Port Said, possibly then to either Greece or Italy and then onto the UK from there.

I know I will need to get a Carnet de Passage from the ATC UAE. Will call them this week to find out details.

Anyone got any tips or advice on these trips from first hand experience?

Cheers,

Nick

As far as I know, if you are not planning to get back to Dubai, you will lose the deposit you paid for the Carnet. And if the jeep is registered in the UAE, you might face some customs fees if you want to register the car in the UK or sell it.
I don't know the specifics, but the Carnet agreement was established to make sure people don't do exactly that.

Either way I hope someone else with experience help you more. Safe travels.

Looking at routes, there seem to be three possibilities, with only two workable outcomes.

Options of route...

1) UAE ferry to Bandar Abbas, then drive through Iran, Turkey and on into Europe. Possible.

2) Saudi and Egypt - Looking difficult as getting the car in and out is problematic.

4wds are apparently not allowed into Southern Sinai, which means the Aqaba Nuweiba route is out.

The other option is getting a ferry from Jeddah to Sudan and then crossing into Egypt from there.

The major problem is I can find no evidence of currently operating outgoing ferries to Europe.

This would then involve putting the car into a container from Alexandria/Cairo/Port Said after the schlep through from Sudan.

The whole journey has ballache written all over it.

3) Drive from the UAE to Jeddah then ship the car from Jeddah to Italy. Am trying to investigate car shipping companies.

Anyone done any of these routes before and care to share any tips or advice?

Thanks,

Nick

Sorry for the late reply.

Crossing KSA is definitely doable as i've seen some travellers have done it. maybe its just a little bit of extra paperwork.

there is definitely multiple ferry crossings between KSA and Egypt, where you don't have to load it in a container. but unfortunately I have no specific information.

and you definitely don't need to put it in a container when crossing Egypt towards Europe,, ferry crossings are there.. but good luck finding a schedule or availability online.

I think the most expensive way to solve this,, is to contact travel agencies in both KSA and Egypt, and let them show you what options they can provide. different agents may have different reach/deals, contact several.

the cheaper way is to find a local through your connections, who is willing to help you maybe for a charge or a tip from your side for his services.

I'm in Saudi Arabia about to head back to the UK on a Ducati Scrambler.

Your first issue is finding out whether you can even get a visa to get into Saudi Arabia in the first place. They are generally very difficult to obtain. I will be going from KSA to Jordan and into Egypt either by ferry or by nipping around the Gulf of Aqaba by land. At Alexandria I will be handing my bike over to a shipping company called Consolidated Freight Services who are going to ship it to Italy for me (but they can also do Greece, Cyprus or Turkey depending on what you fancied).

The contact I got from here - who has been very good so far - was Nermien Mamish nermien_mamish@cfsegypt.com

Currently there is no way of crossing the Mediterranean by boat (that I found, I spent a year looking) and being able to accompany your vehicle. My boat to Italy is 5-6 days so I'm flying on to Corfu for a short holiday while I wait for it to arrive in Italy.

Hope some of this helps, you'll want to check whether you can get a visa for Saudi for definite.

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Hi Nick - I'm in Dubai and just starting to plan something similar but with 2 other British guys and by Motorbike rather than Car.

We've already concluded Iran is easier than Saudi, takes a month to get Visa sorted apparently and just been told by Travel Agent that you need to go on a Guided Tour as we are British?

Ferry goes from Dubai or Sharjah into Iran. Then you are "accompanied" across Iran and onto the Turkish Border, where I guess you need another Visa.

As long as you've owned the Jeep for more than 6 months you shouldn't get hit with Export or Import Tax.
You need a Carnet de Passage and need to de-register it in Dubai before travelling. That's what I know so far!

Trying to check this out... but if you're still planning and haven't gone be good to swop notes. Cheers Jonny

PS: I've also got a Jeep Wrangler in Dubai - JK

Bluebossa you need to chat with three of my friends in Dubai who have done this more than once. Last year they rode Dubai to UK again, and can give you plenty of pointers. Drop me a PM with your details and I'll put you in touch.

HI Tim can you PM me please would like to chat your friends who has done this trip I’m also living in Dubai

Tony Johnson is the one to ask.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Hi nick,
Iran is your best route but unless you are a dual citizen of a non UK country you will have to have a guide which will be expensive and constraining depending on the individual you get.iranians are wonderfully friendly people and if you are prepared to throw cash at it the issue of a guide could be a positive one.
Also check with the bikers on the thread who did it without guide as it is no suprise to me that there are ways around this.
The carnet for your vehicle will not be a lot.over the years i have driven from Dubai to Uk three times and each time i have arranged with a work colleague or friend to return the carnet to the ATC and for them to return the money to me.You can nominate a returnee to the ATC for this purpose at the time of collecting the carnet.however,please check this as systems there tend to change.The ATC is best visited first thing in the morning before they get disintereted.They are very helpfull.
A Turkish visa can be obtained easily at the border.Regarding a route thro Turkey try and check and definately continue to update the situation in Eastern Turkey with the Istanbul bikers club, if they see this thread they will probably contribute.Be prepared to change your plans at the last minute.All routes thro are great experiences.
Good luck and happy trails,
Tony.

Hello All,

Looking for any sound advice and shared experience, with regards the trip im planning Drive from Dubai to UK/Scotland.

So the Dream / plan is as follow May 2022 travel from;
- Dubai to Iran
- Iran to Turkey
- Turkey on to Europe
- Europe to UK and Finally Scotland.

We have allocated 2 months? ( people who have done this trip - is that enough to enjoy it?)

We are planning to make the trip in a 1996 Volkswagen Winnebago. Shes driving and runs well and with all the updates, solar additional battery, 2 inch lift and Winch etc, im confident she is up for the challenge, noting her very basic 2.5 LT Petrol engine with not ECU can generally be fixed by any mechanic? (lol fingers crossed)

So im looking for suggested as to routes, contact (companies and people) and things to see, we will have a 6 and 8 y.o. with us and so safe/suitable places to stay would also be nice...

lets get this chat started and see where we end up lol...

cheers

Sam

Hi Sam/Christine,

Interested to hear whether you are still planning this trip. I'm (very early stages) planning exactly the same trip - probably in late 2022 or early 2023 with my family. Very interested to hear what progress you're making.

We are looking at the Iran - Turkey route but, given recent UAE-Israel diplomatic improvements, we are thinking also about UAE-KSA-Jordan-Israel then ship the car to Turkey or Greece and fly to meet it there (there are no ferries or equivalent that will take the car plus passengers from Israel to Europe).

If you are still planning your trip we can perhaps compare notes?

I'm planning the same trip by motorcycle when I return to the UK next year (if things are still ok in Iran). I would be very interested in how you cope with the insurance side of things as I can't seem to find anyone who would accept this trip.

Things are not ok in Iran and it is just as bad now as it was in March mate unfortunately. You will encounter great difficulties if you hold a UK passport also. Regards insurance? What type? Travel/medical or for the vehicle?

Hi,

I'm looking at the same trip on a motorbike, thou.

I've read soo many differing stories & advice, its a job sorting out which is credible. Been to a few travel agents each one has a different take on it.

https://notjustatourist.com/country-...c=54da795e6521

Found the above, then on Youtube theres a channel called Itchy boots that did the ferry across to Iran, it looked pretty easy in all fairness.

Looking around end of this year or possibly next.

Cheers

Jim