Saturday, Nov 28, 2009
Gulf News
Muscat Hundreds of UAE residents going to Oman through the Wajaja border crossing for the Eid holidays had to spend hours at the border on Thursday.
Hundreds of UAE-registered cars clogged the road leading to the crossing as residents waited to get exit stamps at the UAE side and entry visas at the Omani side.
Travellers complained about a "chaotic" scene on both sides, with travellers getting frustrated and angry.
Sabeen Thaver, a Dubai resident going to Muscat, had to wait an hour at the UAE side and four hours at the Omani side. She said queuing on both sides was "very disorganised".
"But officials on the Oman side picked out women with children for faster processing," she said.
Thaver said she felt "trapped" because "turning back to enter the UAE meant standing in queue again to enter".
R.M., also going to Muscat, said the UAE side of the border had no shade, "and no cafeterias or rest rooms".
She said travellers were getting "very frustrated" on the Omani side and "some were getting angry and getting into arguments".
"A woman standing there told me she had left Abu Dhabi at 6.30am and was still waiting there by 4pm," said R.M. The Al Ain-Buraimi border is an alternative route for road travellers to Oman.
By Abbas Al Lawati, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
