LIVING IN OMAN
Geography and Climate
The Sultanate of Oman lies at the south-western edge of the Arabian peninsula with borders covering approximately 300,000 kms and is sparsely populated. The coastline runs for some 1,700 kms by the Arabian Sea. The distance from the capital, Muscat, on the northern coast to the southern city of Salalah is about 1,300 kms. Geographical features of Oman include a unique geology with spectacular mountain ranges in both the north and south, reaching a height of 3,075 metres at Jebel Akhdar just north-west of Muscat.
There are beautiful, unspoiled beaches with white sands stretching for miles and plenty of opportunity for scuba diving, snorkelling and swimming. Nature-lovers can observe a variety of birds and the famous green turtles at Ras al Hadd south of Sur on the furthermost tip of the Oman coast. The mountain areas abound with a network of wadis with lovely green alpine pools, often shaded by date palms.
The winter climate is pleasantly warm with sunny skies almost every day and average daytime temperatures of 25 degrees Centigrade. In the hottest months, midday temperatures can reach 50 degrees, but everyone adapts with the help of air conditioning. Except for the summer monsoons in Salalah, rainfall is confined to a few days in the later winter months.
Language, Customs and People
The official language of the Sultanate is Arabic, but English is widely used, especially in the commercial sector. All road signs are in both Arabic and English. There are two local daily English language newspapers and an English FM radio station. Omanis are always pleased if an expatriate can speak at least a little Arabic. Great value is placed on the family and traditional values. Omanis are very involved with their own families, and are consequently interested in the families of their guests. Traditionally, the people of Oman are exceptionally friendly, kind and hospitable. Visitors to the regions are readily invited for dates and coffee at home
Accommodation
Private furnished accommodation is provided for all CfBT lecturers. Basic furniture, lamps, carpets, ACs and standard appliances are included. Staff pay for utilities, all of which are comparable in price or cheaper per unit consumed than in most western countries.
Shopping
Supermarkets can be found in all areas of Oman, though the range of items available will be more limited in the Regions. In Muscat there are several excellent supermarket chains, such as the Carrefoure, Lulu and Al Faisha where a wide range of western products is available. Beer and spirits are similar in price to the same products overseas, but wine is more expensive.
Transportation
In Oman a car is considered essential to get to and from work and for socialising, since locations are quite far apart and the public transport system is not sufficiently developed, by western standards, to provide a convenient enough alternative to private cars. The road system is excellent, with dual and triple carriageways in the capital, and well maintained black top roads connecting the principal towns throughout the Sultanate. Roads off the main highways are graded and generally require a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
It is possible to take a reasonable long term lease on a rental car. In order to buy a car it is necessary to have a resident's visa and to possess an Omani driving licence. Nationals of most countries can obtain an Omani licence on production of their national licence.
Social Life
Expatriates in Oman find that they rely much more on their own resources for entertainment than in the Western context. While social life is often patterned in groups of expatriates, with a little effort it is not difficult to join Omani circles, especially in the Regions of Oman.
The Muscat area is a ribbon development of about 70 km long by approximately 3 km wide. There are clusters of towns, containing the hamlet of Muscat, where the Diwan is housed in the Royal Palace; the port of Muttrah featuring traditional Omani markets; the commercial centre, Ruwi; the predominantly residential areas of Qurm, Medina Qaboos and Al Khuwair; and finally, Seeb, where the international airport is situated. The CfBT office is located in Al Khuwair.
There are splendid opportunities for outdoor activities in Oman's magnificent nature. Exploring, hiking, camping swimming, scuba diving, bird watching and camera safaris are among the favourite activities. Especially popular is wadi bashing, where four-wheel drive vehicles are used to cross flowing wadis to access beautiful camping sites and hiking tracks.
