Job Discussion Forums

Demigod · Joined: 15 Dec 2009 Posts: 77

Do expats have access to the internet
for movie streaming, and online gaming?

Can you freely leave the country ?

Do you recommend get the housing allowance 150 months or
just moving in provided housing?

thx in advance

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Where in Oman and for which employer?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Access to the internet is easy in most areas, but usually slow.

Easy exit and access... no exit visas required.

Housing question depends on employer and location.

VS

Whatever will be · Joined: 05 Feb 2014 Posts: 303

Internet is painfully slow, which is probably not adequate for online gaming. Many websites and even some clips on YouTube are blocked. There is no Skype. Some people use illegal re-routing but if you get caught, you're facing stiff penalties.

Exiting the country can become a problem if you have a traffic offense (e.g. speeding ticket) as this must be paid in full and on the spot in cash before leaving (at the airport/Hatti crossing).
If you are leaving by car, you will have to pay for "insurance" to go into UAE.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

When I was there (in both the UAE and Oman), we easily got insurance policies that covered both countries. Is the UAE now requiring an added policy?

VS

Whatever will be · Joined: 05 Feb 2014 Posts: 303

Car insurance is a pain in the proverbial...same as the new e-visa.
People have been turned away at the land crossing because the e-visa didn't work/had technological issues. There were massive traffic jams / lines at the last public holiday/ long weekend on 2 & 3 December. Then it got changed back to normal,visas, Then back to e-visas....not sure what the rule is today....don't care either as it may be,different tomorrow....people get fed up and stop going to Dubai for the weekend, which seems to be the point: keep people in Oman so they spend their money here and boost the local economy.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I'm still confused. Who is causing the problem - Oman or the UAE? Or both?

VS

Roses189 · Joined: 09 Jun 2015 Posts: 21

I live out of town and the internet there is excellent for streaming movies, Netflix etc but I don't know about gaming. You can use a VPN for Skype but, as a previous poster mentioned, it's not legal. I would choose company housing if I was coming for the first time. Renting is a pain. You might be required to pay rent 6 or 12 months in advance. Rental accommodation is normally unfurnished and that could mean you have to buy all furniture and appliances including your airconditioner. That's the worst case scenario but also the most common. 150omr would get you a basic unfurnished 1 bedroom flat.

Charlie123 · Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Posts: 146

Tazz · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 512 Location: Jakarta

Do you think any consideration is ever given to the large number of foreign workers in the country when it comes to decision making? Something like Skype might well encourage interaction between the natives outside their tribal/ family group. God forbid, males and females may even communicate without the consent of their tribal elders! Shocked

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

The main reason that Skype is blocked is to make the expats use the overpriced phone company long distance charges. There are plenty of social websites that the Omanis can use freely. Skype really isn't that great as a social site anyway.

VS

Whatever will be · Joined: 05 Feb 2014 Posts: 303

Skype is crucial in applying for new jobs. Employers outside of Oman always ask for a skype Interview. Inability to comply with that request means loosing out on job opportunities.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2016 4:21 am Post subject:

Personally, I was very happy with the Internet when I was in Oman. Both in terms of reliability and speed. No problems downloading movies/shows or watching YouTube videos. Although I am a gamer, I've never played online.

Charlie123 · Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Posts: 146

A friend of mine said that one of his coworkers told him that Viber was a lot better than Skype...*cough*cough*

Noelle · Joined: 26 Mar 2005 Posts: 361 Location: USA

Wow. I knew that VPN's were frowned upon, but I didn't realize there was a 'stiff penalty' for being caught with one. Wonder what said penalty is? A hefty fine? Or something a lot worse...

I took my VPN and constant access to Skype for granted during my time in Muscat. I even chatted with my family, my U.S. employer and credit card company via Skype... from my work desk... at SQU. It was before Omantel came to my apt. to hook up internet. Would have been at a loss without that VPN or Skype:(

Google hangout with gmail has a webcam and call feature. As far as I can recall, it's not blocked. Or at least it wasn't last year.