driving from Dubai to Makkah and back - two week plan

Your plan will work its ideal.

There is a lot of driving so advisable to have 2 drivers (and remember unlike Dubai, ladies cannot drive in KSA)

I have already posted directions from driving from Dubai to Riyadh (search the posts)

Riyadh Hotels in city centre
Hilton Garden Inn
Siteen Palace
Riyadh Palace
Radisson SAS

Madina Hotels near to Masjid Nabwi
Dar Al Iman
Dar Al Hijra
Anwar Al Madina

Makkah Hotels Near to Haram
Hilton & Hilton Towers
Zamzam Accor
Movenpick
Ayjad Makkah Al Mukkarama

SaudiUK - thanks a lot for confidence and the tips. I'll search your posts for the directions!

Out of many trips to Mekkah & Madina from the UAE, Bahrain and now Riyadh during last ten years was nothing but positive experiences. Once it was by air  and all others I drove with the family. In fact I just got back from Mekkah. I went with the family during last week end for a quick Umra.
I do not see reason going to Dammam once you cross the border and in Saudi. Khufuf is the first modern city that you will have once entered Saudi that will offer you many furnished apartments to rest and have good food.  Dammam is sort of off your way to Madina Al Munawara via Riyadh unless you have some special interests.  In Riyadh you will have plenty of places to get comfortable apartments, hotels, restaurants and shopping destinations.  From Riyadh to Madina some 800 Kms is an absolute pleasure to drive.  Petrol stations along Saudi highways are very good but not modern like in the UAE. They are more traditional where you can buy traditional accessories. Bathrooms are not as clean as in the UAE in those rest areas. But desert is .
The roads from the UAE all the way to Madina and Mekkah are good and not very busy but make sure you re fuel your car as soon as ¼ of petrol has left.  Select bigger petrol stations instead those small and less crowd ones.
Good luck
Kenan

ifaroo wrote:

I live in Dubai and am planning on a driving down to the Holy cities from Dubai. We (me, wife, child) are planning a trip over a period of two weeks. We need some advice from anyone who has done this journey before. Since I will be travelling with family, I don't want to risk driving at night - with the full two weeks period for the total journey, I feel that this should not be an issue.
The plan is as follows:
1. Drive from Dubai to Dammam. Spend the night there and leave for Riyadh the following day.
2. Get to Riyadh, spend the night and leave for Madinah.
3. Get to Madinah, spend a couple of days and then depart for Makkah.
4. Get to Makkah, spend a couple of days or more and then begin the trip back, pretty much in the same manner.
I would like to hear any tips, advice, guidance on whether this is not a completely crazy idea. Any suggestions of a decent hotel in Dammam / Riyadh / Madinah / Makkah.

Thanks!

Thanks a lot Kenan. Great tips. I do have a special interest in Dammam as I have to drop something off to a friend of mine there - so Dammam will have to be a stop. Will plan accordingly.
It's really great to know that you just did a trip from Dubai to Makkah over the weekend - wasn't that really hectic for a weekend?

Thanks!

Hi, did you take road trip to makkah? I am planning for a trip from dubai to makkah for hajj next year inshaAllah. Will be traveling with mother, sister, wife and 2 kids below 6. Any recommendations ? Share your experience as well.