PPRuNe Forums - Is this for real!!!!!!!!????????????

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Is this for real!!!!!!!!????????????

GCC Rules Pertaining to Electronic Devices. Please be advised that all airports in the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) have a new rule regarding arriving and departing overseas workers carrying electronic
devices. The GCC consists of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the
Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of Yemen. This has not been published to the public. Please advise
all that are traveling to GCC airports.

All Electronic devices will be submitted for check up before the immigration section:
• Devices include cellular phones with camera and memory card, flash disks, external hard drive,
laptop/ notebook/ pc, iPod, iTouch, and mp3 players with memory cards.
• A special USB device will be inserted to the electronic devices that you are carrying. This special
device can scan all contents of your laptop and/or cell phones including videos and pictures, jpg,
bmp, avi, etc…, and contents will be recorded to their main computer.
• All devices with nude pictures will be confiscated immediately. There will be no fines, refusal will
send you to jail and you will face deportation.
• Laptops with pirated software will also be confiscated.

Not again..... :ugh:

Quote:

new rule regarding arriving and departing overseas workers

Does that mean locals will not be probed?

Get ready for a Cavity Search!!!! :ugh:

The closest I've come to a cavity search was at Dubai airport.

I was taken into a back room and was asked to take my shoes and socks off and the guy left me in there for around 5 minutes whilst he went swab my footwear (i assume).

:}

Quote:

• Laptops with pirated software will also be confiscated.

Well, that sounds fair enough, just dealing with a case of common theft, but someones private and personal non pornographic pictures should not be subject to confiscation provided there is no intent to publish them.

That said, a 4GB memory stick should not be too difficult to hide.

Is there anyone who have actually arrived to Dubai and had this search done?

99.99% of travelles arrive with electronic devices. They search for illegal substances all right - not for the content of your USB stick.

Yemen is not a GCC country, but a wannabe

This goes for dvd's aswell?

Back to the original question.. No, I don't think security checks of such nature are going to happen without public notification or any piece of announcement the least! Doesn't sound like a real thing to me. Up to the minute, GCC airports are very normal.

Just came bk from leave... Lot's of electronics on me... they Xrayed me.. Chalas....

No other chks...
:ok:

EK staff had hard drive inspected at DXB very recently, apparently..

Went through DXB last week...no problems whatsoever.
Having said this, leave your provocitive photos at home, for best results.
Also, travel in uniform (if a pilot), in my opinion.
I received a 'good evening Captain', welcome.

Made my day.:ok:
Nice folks.

Arrived back in AUH this week from leave, no problems at all. All smiles:ok:

didnt we leave CBC a year ago?

UK Foreign Office confirmation

The British Embassy in Bahrain has confirmed the reports. Saudi officials ARE screening laptops and other devices. They have sent the following email to registered British citizens.

Quote:

You received this email because you are registered on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office locate system, thank you for registering with us. The service helps our Embassy staff provide better assistance to you in the event of a crisis. Our ability to provide help in such situations can reduce delay and worry in times of stress for family and friends at home. Locate can also help if family or friends need to get in touch with you in an emergency.

We wanted to draw your attention to the following report received by the British Embassy in Riyadh in relation to electronic devices.

Saudi Arabian Customs officials have authority to screen all electronic devices (laptops, mobile phones, PDAs etc) entering or leaving Saudi Arabia. If requested, all passengers will be submitted to through inspections at international airports. Anyone found to be carrying pirated or explicit materials will have their equipment confiscated. The report adds that refusal to comply with this rule will result in detention and/or deportation. This information can also be viewed on our website www.ukinbahrain.fco.gov.uk

In addition the www.ukinbahrain.fco.gov.uk website provides information on Consular Services and latest news from the Embassy. We always welcome ideas for improving the website. If you have any suggestions or comments please email us at [email protected] you can also use this address for any query.

Please feel free to forward this email to any British National friends family or colleagues who are in Bahrain whether it be for a short or long period of time. To register on locate please click on this link www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/Locate it only takes a few minutes.

If you would like to contact the Consular team here in Bahrain please email us at [email protected]

HM Consul

Rubbish. Embassy just copied the hoax. Them Saudi customs officials can't find their own derrieres using both hands and a torchlight - much less recognize a USB device when tripping over it.

The travel advice for Saudi Arabia on the FCO website has also been updated with the new information.

Saudi Arabia travel advice

MrMachfivepointfive, if the news is rubbish as you suggest it is, I'm sure we'll hear something from the Saudi state news agency in response.