In the summer of 2011, on a tractor-trailer en route from Brussels in Belgium to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, I followed the route via Google Map on the iPhone. And when I began to observe our approach from the Dutch border, I kept my passport ready.
I believed that there would be customs and inspection points before we enter the Netherlands and they it will stamp our passports. But we passed the border between the two countries, without anybody stopping us to see our passports. After this, I learnt that moving within the European Community by trains, cars and buses is easy and simplified without customs. I was so impressed by this system.
How do borders between different countries with their own languages, religioons and cultures unify? Despite a dark past between some of these countries due to wars during historical times, they have become one. On the borders, in politics and in international and financial spheres, each country collapses and other European countries collapse with it. The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him): (Like believers in their compassion, sympathy and friendly relations like one body, if one organ complains, the remaining organs of the body collapse with care and fever).
Foreign countries apply this discourse entirely, therefore, where are Arab Muslim countries from this speech? Border is not the only one that gathered them. But, also the Euro currency used by every European citizen in all European countries without going to a money exchanger to change the currency. Even if the other country is away from him by many hours while the nearest country to us (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) that separates us and them less than one hour by car, there is another currency being used. Money of Saudi tourists decreases if the Saudi currency is converted to the Qatari Riyal.
We wait for hours in Gulf countries at customs points during the peak tourist season, during summer vacations, feasts and weekends. While in European countries, we move easily without that we feel that we transported to another country, where shops are contiguous between the countries. For example, a cafe disconnects Netherlands to Belgium. The borders between them ends after the last chair of Belgian café with less than half metre. The only thing that brings together Gulf countries in one place is the periodical Gulf football tournament. Which depends on a large number of teams. Perhaps, we will see soon other non-Gulf countries joining it due to increasing number of participating teams. Cyclic is the only thing that brings us together. Although, we don’t agree with it. There is a lot of cursing, abusing and fighting after every match without any sporting spirit.
When, networks will be removed among Gulf countries on the borders. And the Gulf ‘currency unifies, so that we don’t have to search for exchange houses in a country away from us by about one hour? When will we be able to move more comfortably among Gulf countries?
And easily without wasting a lot of waiting time in queues of cars at Gulf customs.
When will we have excellent and fast trains among Gulf countries so that we can visit our families in Saudi Arabia or shop in Dubai or attend a play in Kuwait or buy candy in Bahrain or recovery in Amman or performing pilgrimage in Makkah. Only, just one day?
