DAMMAM: Some expatriate workers got an unpleasant surprise Sunday when Bahraini immigration officers on the King Fahd Causeway denied them entry to the island kingdom.

While there was no official explanation from the Bahraini authorities, a "fairly large number" of expatriates working in Saudi Arabia on labor work permits were turned away. Included among them were Arab and Asian expatriates who work as drivers ferrying passengers between the two countries on a daily basis.

"I have been going to Bahrain regularly for the last seven years. I work as a driver and take passengers in the morning to Bahrain and bring them back in the evening. My clients include office managers and students. I was, however, stopped today," said Egyptian limousine driver Tarek Tawfiq. "I have a Saudi house driver iqama, and I am a legal expatriate. I have all the legal documents to enter Bahrain," he said.

By legal documents, Tawfiq meant the six-month multiple exit/re-entry visa that is issued by the Saudi Passport Department. That is, however, not enough for entry into Bahrain. Once you exit the Saudi immigration checkpoint on the causeway, you have to approach the Bahraini immigration counter where the Bahraini on-arrival visa is issued for a small fee. In the past, almost everybody with a legal Saudi iqama could enter Bahrain irrespective of the profession category. Those who are working in the Kingdom on labor visas, such as house drivers, electricians and plumbers were given entry into Bahrain through the Causeway. Now, however, Bahrain has decided to let in only those expatriates who do not have labor-category work visas.

According to one Indian expatriate, who regularly commutes between the two countries and who works as a manager in a Saudi firm but has a labor visa, he could not get into Bahrain on Sunday morning. He was not given any explanation. "I crossed the Saudi immigration but had to come back after the Bahrain passport authorities refused to let me in. However, I could enter Bahrain later in the day."

Other expatriates who commute between the two countries on a regular basis confirmed this. "In the absence of any official explanation, I can only surmise that the Bahrainis are trying to stop those expatriates who are going to Bahrain to do menial jobs in the morning. Hence the restrictions," said Neaz Abdaali, an Indian expatriate.

The Saudi Passport Department issues six-month multiple exit/re-entry permits to all legal expatriates irrespective of the profession on their iqama. Drivers, electricians and plumbers -- everybody get these permits provided this request is signed by their Saudi sponsors.

For nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, there is no visa requirement. In Dubai and other GCC states, only those expatriates with professional work permits in any member country are given on-arrival visas. All GCC countries' immigration data are bound by one network. In Dubai, for instance, the immigration authorities demand your iqama number and immediately check your profession before granting you an on-arrival visa.

The move is certain to cause inconvenience to Saudi businessmen who use drivers to visit the island. Saudi tourism accounts for a significant amount of Bahrain's economic activity, which may prompt Bahrain government officials to issue a statement to clarify what is now a confusing situation.

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