jonnieandmartina

folks,, anyone out ther with Oman knowledge etc etc.... I am in discussion about a job, final stages i should add. we haven't discussed monies, family coming out etc etc as yet..

need to know anything regards bringing a family, schooling if any, living !!

any advice most welcome..

jon

Meow

1. Search threads
2. Google

Muscat is a nice town and suitable for families, but you do need to do some research yourself...

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Desert Dweller

Final stages and you haven't discussed monies or family coming out yet....the two most important things about making a move?
In answer to your questions- there are schools and there is living.

OriginalSunshine

bring your family , go to school ? but some guys like living apart from their family

come on - be a bit more specific

Tockalosh

Oman is the best place in the Gulf so just take the job and get out there
Housing is generally half decent price in comparison with the rest of the Gulf. If you insist on living in a community then get rental prices for the Wave, if you want a better feel for life then get a villa in Al Seeb or on the front by the fish market.
Loads of schools and the Omanis are the friendliest Arabs by far
Not sure what you consider living but bars if you want them, swimming with dolphins, the turtle egg laying malarkey, whale watching, dessert, mountain drives, decent Pork, having a beer by the marina, Sallalah and have I mentioned the friendly Omanis

Just do it

Desert Dweller

An upgraded two bedroom/3 floor townhouse goes for about RO850 p/m

OriginalSunshine

http://www.taif.me.uk

and knock off about 5-10% because the market is slow

avoid cluttons or hamptons

VFB

HI there,
We've been here 2 years now, make sure in your contract you get medical insurance ( all the family), you are allowed a maid sponsored by your company as the laws are getting stricter here and its large fines and visa cancellation if you are caught hiring one illegally. All maids "should" be only working for their sponsor, though that rarely happens. Full time live in should be 150 OMR a month, but you "should pay for their food, provide accommodation and 1 flight every 2 years back to their home country, you pay for their medical stuff. Part time maids get between 1-2 OMR / hour. WE did a deal with ours and she's on 150 / month / mornings only and 2 nights babysitting a week. Get references off them, check how they discipline your kids and take no BS, give an inch and you'll find your worldy goods disappearing, phone calls made on your phone etc ... Make sure your kids schooling costs are included in your contract, as you have to pay non refundable deposits to get into the British School of MUscat or the Royal Flight. These are the only decent ones I 've heard of. I believe froma friend of mine they had to pay 2000 OMR to deposit on a school place per child. The schools start at 3 years with pre school and go through to A level on the international curriculum. If your kids are pre school and you want a nursery - only put your child in an english run nursery. Hitting kids is commonplace out here for non europeans...... Depends where your work is as to which part of town you'll want to live in. The PDO lot tend to live in the very expensive housing in Qurum and embassies area. The new complex still being built called the WAve is 3 mins from teh airport and 3 mins from 2 major shopping malls. Rents are cheap as many expats got sacked and are still being sacked due to teh economic down turn. 2nd hand cars are cheap, but only buy from expats as you'll know they have been maintained....if you need a decent car seat for kids bring them with you choice is very poor here. Toys tend to be cheap chinese imports at inflated prices or so cheap they fall apart when you look at them. If your wife comes with you get her to get a womens guild card as its 7 OMR for teh year and tons of discounts in many shops restaurants etc ( normally 10-20 % sometimes 50 %). Remember its hot here, Kids can't play outside after 9am in teh morning in teh summer, til 5pm ish.. PLaygrounds are poorly maintained and dont go on fair ground rides. PLus side OManis are very friendly and any effort to speak arabic is appreciated. I can put you in contact with some good teachers if you need it. Oman is about 20 years behind Dubai and therefore more quiet but its only 4 hrs drive there, so good place to escape to. Camping is a winter passtime here... MOst socialising is done in hotel bars. The pork shop is in Ruwi a long drive from Seeb where we are but worth it as AL fair sells bacon at 7-9 OMR for 200g around where as theirs is 1.6 OMR for 200g. Al fair sell waitrose and similar stuff, carrefour and lulus are teh standard supermarkets - well stocked. Main shopping centres are in Qurum, Seeb and Ghubra. Let me know if you need anything else info wise. AM here for 1 more year then escaping to somewhere my kids can play on the grass all year round. It is thought that all expats are on silly money out here so you will pay a premium on everything so barter and barter then barter some more. We brought our dogs and cat out with us easily and will take them home again, where ever that will be. Be prepared for appaling driving ( not as bad as Dubai) and especially so during Ramadan - during August this year. They will fall asleep at the wheel. Everyone tail gates here, its how they are taught to drive and even though you are by law forbidden to use a mobile while driving, it appears they all have them surgically bonded to their ears! Also during ramadan the only place to get a drink - even a cup of water is at a hotel behind closed doors - with hotel prices.... Still its sunny, hot and shopping malls can get very boring... Hope that helps

Desert Dweller

That's a big block of text to read!

You can get cheap pork from Darsait as well, in the fishery opposite LuLu's.

I totally disagree that most socializing is done in hotel bars- I would say very little is done there except the singles and those looking for hookers.
Non-refundable deposit fo rthe British School is 2500 rials and will probably go up because they are a bunch of ****ing thieves, just like all the other international schools here. Getting schools paid by your work is very important.

Jammy_Dodgers

Been here 3-4 weeks now.....kinda like it!

Desert Dweller

Change your location then! You've just arrived in time for the heat.......

divingdiva

Oman is a great country to move to and live in. The country is one of the safest in the world, the people are friendly, life is good and you get to go camping and out to remote stunning beaches at weekends if you make the effort.

The down sides are the heat, the lack of greenery and places to exercise out doors and of course the driving..has to be the WORST in the world ..tailgating is considered the norm and if you bib your horn at Omanis in particular, they feel it their right to try to call the police on you- shocker. ( whilst driving the car which is a fine in itself that seems to go unnoticed!)

Coming to live here, make sure you have a HUGE housing allowance as possible. for expats, try to go to The Wave as its the most laid back and relaxed with lots of other expats nearby for your kids to meet and socialise with. try Gulf Property World on [email protected] who seem to have a huge selection of properties for rent and for sale and have the best knowledge I know of anyone out here on The Wave -the team are mostly expats from the UK who all seem very helpful.


As far as money is concerned, the pound is almost double the Omani Rial so you will find it quite expensive to begin with until you are used to it. Namely June- august is dead here as most of the affluent travel overseas to avoid the heat of the summer...its lovely and quiet with little traffic so be prepared for late August when everyone comes back again.

Re clothing, as long as you are respectful with tshirts and three quarter length clothing outdoors around the malls, you can wear what you want at home ( in The Wave) and of course at the beaches that you pay to enter.

Hope that helps...dont be put off, Oman is so special and a really amazing country to experience! a real gem hidden away.

AwadHassan

yeah very ture

AwadHassan

dubai is ok but getting hot day by day

flares

and and and

the learner driver cars are zebras..which is cool