DAMMAM, 30 June 2003 — The new regulations for Saudi and Bahraini travelers on the King Fahd Causeway will come into effect in August, passport officials at the Causeway told Arab News on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have agreed that nationals of both countries can now travel over the Causeway without their passports being stamped by immigration officials on either side.
The move comes as a result of a recently signed agreement between the two countries to open their borders for their respective nationals.
Until now, nationals of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as other GCC citizens, were required to produce their passports and get a stamp of entry and exit from immigration officials.
Under the new rules, the nationals of these two countries can now cross the border at the Causeway by simply showing their passport.
“No stamps will be required from August,” the passport official said.
All GCC countries have agreed that their nationals can travel within the GCC without visas. They do, however, have to produce a passport, which is stamped upon entry and exit.
There are certain categories — such as security officials — who will require prior permission before crossing the border, as part of international agreements.
Most GCC countries have also liberalized their visa policy for foreign workers. Countries such as Bahrain, the UAE and Oman provide visas at airports, while Bahrain does so on the Causeway. All the countries have set a special visa fee for expatriates and certain categories of foreign workers. The GCC states have been discussing a more open-border policy and relaxation of rules for expatriates.
The King Fahd Causeway links Bahrain with Alkhobar and thousands of people use it every day.
The charge is SR20 per vehicle. To facilitate VIP commuters, the King Fahd Causeway Authority has opened an express lane in which motorists will not have to face long queues and delays.
