username 34

is there anybody here living and working in Muscat?

please PM me if you are... thanx

Homesickgirl

Hi Islandmom. I am living in Muscat but unfortunately do not work. I have 3 teenagers to keep me busy though.

Desert Dweller

I lived there for 7 years and have family still there if that's any help!

username 34

hi - thanks guys.

I really need to know what its like to live there. Is Muscat busy? whats the housing like, whats the social scene like, whats the expat scene like?

Is Muscat a big lively city or is it more like a big town in the UK? Are the beaches good?

Is it very westernised like Dubai or are there restrictions like Saudi?

Ray51

In-between DXB and Saudi-fundamentalists : means that there's plenty booze available in 5-star hotels , at 5-star prices !
Not as promiscuous as Dubai/Abu Dhabi !
Beaches ( especially : Salalah ) are great , as is unspoilt nature and scenery , dried-out river beds , wadi-bashing , fab food , visits to Emirates...
Never-ever met any expat who didn't just lurve Oman !
For my 3 Eurocents' worth , there U have it! Good Luck !

Desert Dweller

In some ways Muscat is freer than Dubai but in other ways it is more closed. I would put it closer to Qatar than Saudi in terms of comparison. Oman has seen what a mess Dubai has become due to selling its soul and has chosen not to go down that path. There are restrictions on building height and all designs must conform to a traditional blueprint.
Booze is available in most restaurants from 1 star to 5 star, it depends on whether thay have applied for a licence.
Muscat is a long city as opposed to having one centre. There is a wide range of accommodation available and much of it is in villas as opposed to high rises. Rent is cheaper than Dubai by up to 50% though the quality is generally lower.
The social life does not revolve around nightclubs, shopping and bars but pastimes, beachclubs and group activities. It is probably a better place to bring up kids in the sense of security, socialising with other kids of other nationalities and backgrounds and the schooling is of a very high standard with British, American, International and some other nationality schools and playgroups.
The expat scene is very close and events like rugby, concerts, raft races etc are always a good, fun event. There is a lot of cross-pollinisation as well. You meet a lot more nationalities, especially locals, in Oman.
The beaches are superb, especially if you get in a 4x4 and drive a little further to places like Barr Al Hikman and, as someone already said, Salalah (though flying would be better for that!).
I loved Oman, my family that are there love Oman (and have been there for 15 years now) and a lot of my friends still love it there. My wife and I would go back if the oppoprtunity came up.

gruffbrown

They've just remade it, it's not as good as the original.