Moving from Dubai to Muscat, and nervous!

[teapot1]

HI, my family and I are moving to Muscat after the summer, after 3 fantastic years in Dubai. The kids are 10 and 8 and will be going to BSM and Royal Flight (couldn't get the little one into BSM at the mo).

What's Muscat like for life as a family? Is it easy to make friends? We're a pretty easy going bunch, and love socialising, a few drinks and the odd bit of karaoke! Are there any groups I should join to meet other women, or should it be pretty easy through the school network?

I hear that Muscat's a lot quieter than Dubai, and am slightly nervous about this.....Would really appreciate any advice/thoughts!

www.expatwoman.com have an Oman section. You should get all the info you need there. A friend went to the flight school and loved it, so did her kids before they moved to Dubai. We have only been to visit but we loved it. I would be quite happy to move there.

We live in Muscat, it has a very different feel to Dubai, some describe it as sleepy. But we really like it, I am always relieved to get back here after a few days in Dubai.

It has a large expat population, so socializing will not be a problem. Do you know where you will be living yet?

It is a really beautiful country and the people are very friendly... even customs/immigration officers!

Partialderivative - you always have such lovely things to say about Oman and it really is much appreciated. Thank You. :)

To the Op - you will be fine. Really.

I haven't lived in Muscat but I've been there and I do live in the gulf. Everyone I know who has lived in Oman goes all nostalgic at the mention of it. Extremely friendly people, gorgeous landscape etc. I'm sure you will love it.

A word of warning, there has been talk recently of banning alcohol in Oman.

As there has been for years and nothing ever came of it.

Sorry, just to add that its i not a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol that's being sought. People just want the sale of it to be under more control. Its very much in your face these days and no good has come of it. People really do have to understand that if they won't to enjoy a drink there are ways to go about it and ways not to - the current way is not the right way.

Years ago when we had a different kind of expat in Oman they had the savvy to know that being able to access alcohol was a bonus when it came to living in the ME, its not like that nowadays, for many the being able to obtain alcohol is seen as an in your face right - well its not and its this attitude thats brought us to the debate taking place next week. Its the same with the trendy locals who like a drink - discretion really is the best way dont you know?

We have access to alcohol because of the nature of my husbands work but not once in almost 40 years have we broken the rules relating to us having it. Rules such as if you have a friend who can't get it legally, please do not pass it on to them if they ask, and have a drink but by all means be discrete and dont spoil things for others.

People only have themselves to blame for what is probably coming next - restrictions.

Thanks for that update Granny. I am not well-informed on the matter.

I can understand the points you are making. I hope I would fall your definition of 'discrete'.

I am sure the powers that be recognise the impact a ban would have on the expanding tourist industry.

Partial, this is the article and as someone who enjoys a wee tipple as do those nearest and dearest to me, there is much in this article I agree with.

Quite frankly people have spoiled it for themselves.

As for tourism? I suspect many will think there's enough about Oman to still make people want to come even if they can't have a drink.

Immigration Officers etc - they're fab aren't they :)

www.timesofoman.com/news/35105/Article-Majlis-Al-Shura-plans-to-impose-curbs-on-trade-intake-of-alcohol-in-Oman

Outlawing something will only drive it underground.

Societies change, better to face that and deal with the consequences through increasing public awareness.