Live in Oman or Dubai...WWYD

[Gem1978]

My husband came home tonight and told me that he has been offered a job which would mean us moving to Dubai or Oman. It is my choice whether we go for it, we have a 2 and 1y.o. My primary consideration is their welfare. Have any of you lived in either country - what is it like with young children, and how do you cope with the heat / culture etc? Thanks

Personally I've no experience of either country but I have a friend who was in your situation recently and spent a year or so living in Oman as a result with her two little ones. She was bored of the constant sun and heat by the time she came back but had an amazing time and the kids had a great experience. It was a great place. Pretty hard core bugs though! Is it a long term move? Would you be moving to an area with lots of other expats to socialise with?

I've been on holiday twice, one extended as ex in laws live there.

I would move there in a second. Loved it. It is too hot to go outside at the height of summer but they are very child focussed out there and all sort of activities are set up for the summer. If you are going where other ex pats are you will soon make friends.

Honestly I'd go tomorrow if I could.

Oh and this is Dubai I am talking about.

I grew up in the Middle East - lived in Saudi Arabia from when I was 1 'til I was 10 and then the Emirates until I left for uni at 18.

IME the heat wasn't too much of a problem - absolutely everywhere is air-conditioned. Cars, shops, homes, you name it. You'd probably end up living in the expat zone of Jumeriah/Umm Suqeem/Jebel Ali and so there would be plenty of other British people mostly in the same boat as you. Social links, schools etc aren't generally a problem. Whether they are the sort of people you want to hang out with is a a different matter though! The Jumeriah Janes (ladies wot lunch) are a legendary stereotype.... :)

Dubai traffic and rents were legendary (in a bad way) when I lived there; however I hear the traffic is a lot better now they have the metro. Not sure about rental situation though!

I can't really comment much on the cultural differences as I have one Arabic parent and one British parent, so have one foot in each camp! I would say that the expat area of Dubai is a lot more relaxed than the rest of the Emirates but that excessively provocative dress/behaviour, drinking in public etc is simply not a good idea. Generally speaking, cover your shoulders and above the knees when out during the day and you won't get too much schtick.

Oh and for the LOVE OF GOD avoid the Choueifat School in all its incarnations (it is spread across the Middle East). It is a terrible, shit school and the students are miserable. Just getting that out there.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions :)

I'm not sure how helpful this will be to you but you did ask: I would never go and live in the middle East. Never. Unless it was on pain of death.

Dubai is great for a holiday. We have been taking the kids since they were one,however to actually have to do anything in that heat would be awful.we just play in pool or they enjoyed indoor kids club. Couldn't go out for walk or anything.

However you need to weigh this up with how much dh will earn and how long you will be there IMO.

I know someone who has spent a lot of time in both, and rates Oman as the best

Lived in Dubai for 10 years - it is, as everywhere in life, what you make of it! I suggest going on expatwoman they have loads of helpful information re Dubai or Oman

• it is expensive to live here - on a par if not more than the UK- but I love it - although not the heat this summer as quite pregnant!

Do your research - and see if you can cope with the lifestyle!

Mintyy - that's the entire Middle East? Consisting of over a dozen countries (all different) and an area the size of Europe?

Have you ever even been to the Middle East?

O.P I have heard lovely things about both, but especially Oman and it's people.

Yep, am quite certain that I would never choose to live in the middle east. Would visit, of course, but only if it gets to the point of regularly being below 28 degrees every day - have no idea if that happens or not?

So your reluctance is based on temperature, mintyy? Honestly, it's not that bad! Everywhere is air-conditioned - it's a normal feature of life. And I lived in the Emirates, which get pretty damn hot. You might prefer Jordan/Iraq/Syria as they are more temperate (in terms of weather anyway).... my parents live in Syria and apparently it was snowing there in April!

op, I imagine Oman would be less showy and more 'real' than Dubai, although definitely less modern. One thing I did observe whilst growing up there is that Dubai as whole is a rather racist environment. The 'workers', who mostly come from India/Pakistan, are kept in labour camps and treated like cattle. If you're British or American then you are generally treated with respect but people from poorer countries do tend to be mistreated by police and are not respected much at all. It's an unpleasant feature of the country which they try to play down but it is definitely there.

Yes, my opinion is largely based on temperature ... is that so odd? We are talking about living somewhere, not just visiting! I don't know, perhaps I am being unreasonable ...

Having lived in both I would return to Oman in a heartbeat. Both my brothers were born there, I went to school there and in Dubai. Dubai is very showey and flash where as Oman isn't.

mintyy, I s'pose that it's as good a reason as any... I just think that technology has mostly taken care of the issue and it would be a shame if you missed out on living somewhere new and exciting as a result of such worries.

I would personally never ever live in Istanbul because it is way past due for a major earthquake - now that's one problem technology has not sorted out yet!!

It depnds on the experience you want. Dubai is a middle Eastern Vegas, with every desire at your fingertips. Oman is a lot slower paced and now as developed. I'd go to either place myself