OP, I had an idea as to where you’d be, even to the extent of knowing where you’re probably staying.
With regards to probably never going back to the UK, you’ll find that much easier said than done such are the hoops you’d have to jump through to stay here. There’s also the fact Omanisation is well under way, your husbands profession is Omanised and there wouldn’t be a job for him to do. I I suggest you read up on the very few ways there are to stay here long term before you make long term plans.
Also, your children don’t go to a private school. They go to a community school/embassy school which is the equivalent of a good state comprehensive/grammar school in the UK. In fact there are only about 3 or 4 of the community schools here that could be classed as grammar schools and the rest are good comprehensives.
Private schools are the Omani serving equivalent of the expat school system. The rest are government schools.
Arabic - there’s no need to learn but if you have the basics it would go down very well and I would start off by learning the greetings. I can recommend someone if you would still like to consider classes but again there really is need.
Regarding home help - don’t let yourself be put off having it. Just make sure that anything you would ask of your help is only something you would do to keep your house at the standards you live by. If you decide it’s not something you would do then don’t ask your housekeeper/part time cleaner to do it. Remember that every woman you come across here as an expat is someone’s daughter/sister etc. Treat them as you would want the women in your family to be treated. Yes, some of the men and women who arrive here to work are mistreated but the greater majority are not, and nowadays the government has things in place to protect those who are mistreated. People do not get off lightly for doing it. Oman is also doing very good work to combat people trafficking.
Criticising the RF - of course people can but it wouldn’t be appreciated by the national community as it’s their RF to criticise and no one else’s.
Women’s rights - women and girls do have rights but you really do have to be part of the national community (as I am) to know the extent of them. It helps blow smoke on the claim they don’t. The days of women belonging in the kitchen are long gone and Omani women are very ambitious and very high achieving.
Freedom of expression and censorship - our online forums certainly prove otherwise.
Premarital relationships - it happens and the authorities are aware it happens.
Gay people - people who live here and know the society intimately know what the score is. The real score. Not the one suggested on this thread.
Sharia law - we have a dual legal system going on. It’s only the most serious of cases that would go to the Sharia court. We have family courts and courts for lesser crimes where punishments are given according to a modern day equivalency outwith of Sharia. We do have the death sentence but it happens very very rarely, usually when a family won’t forgive someone for murder for example. Rape is one of the crimes covered but the death sentence.
Can people vote? Absolutely. People have had voting rights for years and women also stand for election.
Faith - if you are a CHristian you will find churches to go to. There are also temples etc for those following other faiths.
Im going to bed now OP and if I have time over the next few days I’ll some back and answer anything I’ve missed out on going through the posts here.
I’m glad you’re enjoying Oman and although people may look at me and think I’m an ordinary 70 year old British expat wifey the fact is I’m not. I live my life as part of the local community and have done for decades so what you are hearing from me is fact based on a lifetime of experience and intimate knowledge of how society works. One other thing I will say is that never once in my 50 years have I ever ran down the UK and never once have I said I would never return even though the latter is highly unlikely. Every country in the world has both good points and bad and when it comes to it both the UK and Oman are very good places to live and bring up a family. It might help you to think of things like this - if push ever came to shove would I only ever go back to the UK kicking and screaming or would I be happy to say - thank God I can go back to the UK despite its many faults.
Im sorry you’ve had a such a hard time on this thread but it’s only ever par for the course when the Gulf States are mentioned. Done take the posts personally and if you would ever like to know more about living in Oman that is based in reality rather than some of the nonsense or times here I’d be happy to talk to you about it. Also, if you are ever homesick. Just come back to the thread and we can find a way to link up. I don’t know if the PM system works or not.