Job Discussion Forums

[C76]

Hi Everyone,

So...What is life like for (Western) women in Oman?

I've heard conflicting things regarding how progressive it really is.

I need to know bc it's one of the locations on my "Second Choice" list.

[veiledsentiments]

Your question is very hard to answer. There is no way to know what your definition of 'progressive' is. If you expect it to be like the West, it most certainly is not.

Oman is a very religiously conservative country, but the people are friendly and welcoming. I lived there for quite a few years as a single woman and truly enjoyed it.

If you want to discuss more specific information, you could send me a PM.

VS

[zakiah25]

C76,
Oman is considered to be one of the more progressive and liberal countries in the Middle East - however, this needs to be clarifed. It is more so than say, Saudi Arabia but probably not so much in terms of many Western countries for after all, it is a Moslem country.
I'm currently working here - Western women are able to go to bars and nightclubs at the big international hotels but there are places where it's not a good idea for a woman to be or to travel alone. Going to work, I tend to dress conservatively because I'm in contact with Arab students and other (Arab) teachers. Also, when going out to places in the countryside, it's best to travel with a group and also to dress conservatively so as not to attract too much attention from locals. For example, a friend and I often visit local markets and even though we wear hats, long sleeved tops and long skirts, we are always stared at (she has long red hair and fair complexion). In this case, it's better to have a male friend accompany you.
Driving in this country is horrendous - I wouldn't recommend that a woman travel alone in country areas although it's not a problem to drive alone in Muscat, the capital. You just have to be careful of bad drivers.
Life can still be very restrictive for local women because of the culture although there are many signs that both Modern and Western ideas are having an effect.
I agree with VS above, the Omanis are friendly and very welcoming.
regards
Zakiah

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Zakiah

Always cheers me up to see your little dancing girl show up. As always, I agree with you - but for one little thing. (sorry to go off on a tangent C76 --)

You have written this before and at the time I didn't say anything. About those Omani drivers that you don't like. Actually, I found the roads of Oman to be the safest in the Middle East - bar none. I would consider the Emiratis and their roads to be about 10 times worse than Oman. The Kuwaitis are at least 200 times more dangerous than the Omanis. And the highways around Washington DC rank up there with Emiratis, fast approaching the Kuwaitis - much worse than the Omanis. Having done lots of driving in all those places, I just hate to see my favorite Omanis unjustly accused.

I will admit that my driving was mostly around Muscat / Seeb / on to Dubai and you have more experience out in the hinterlands. Have you ever been to Kuwait City? I think that if you could spend a couple of days on the road there, you would come around to my way of thinking in no time. Many people have told me that Saudi is even worse than Kuwait, but I don't see how that would even be possible. Every day I arrived home with the feeling that I had cheated death another time. I have never felt that way in Oman - even after spending all day on the roads traveling about.

I would actually say that driving in Oman is not much worse than driving here in smallish town mid-Western America. Both places have too many young men with no sense and fast cars - and too many that drink and drive. But, at least we have no camels wandering about - and the goats can be even worse - though at least they don't come through the windshield. To give equal time, in much of the US, there is now a major problem with hitting deer since they have become urban vermin.

OK, I'm done with my rant -- all is relative, of course. There are plenty of bad drivers everywhere it seems. I suspect that there is a link between the bad driving in the Gulf and the percentage of young male drivers.

VS

[kaw]

Women can have problems anywhere they go as am sure most people realise.
Yes, there are problems for women in Oman. The situation doesn't appepar to be too bad in Muscat - where ok - if you go to a bar you quite possibly will get (un)wanted attention. I happened to go to a bar in Muscat with my Omani boyfriend and while he was in the loo or at the bar or something some guy came over and gave me what I can only describe as a "love note" with his phone number on. The general idea seems to be that if you can be with one Omani guy you can have the whole lot......................
It is important to look at their attitudes towards realationships as a whole though. Most Omani men are married by about 25 (although there are some exceptions) - as you may know - they may have more than one wife (up to a maximum of 4 as long as they are all treated equally), despite being married however - they don't see any problem in having a girlfriend (or 2) as well. Although I don't really agree to it I can see why they do it. Most of the time it sees, these guys (and the same applpies to the girls) don't great a choice in who they want to marry - it's usually a cousin or someone - well - in rural Sur it is the case anyway. The idea of actually being in love with someone before you marry them is pretty much unheard of as the idea is to marry whoever and then "Allah" will put the love in your heart.

Anyway back to the hassle side of things - as long as you are sensible you can pretty much avoid too much hassle - yes you will get stares and sometimes comments made, from the Omani's but probably more so from the Indian ex-pats. As has been said before - don't go out in the halterneck tops, don't act in a bar as you would at home - remember that Omani women don't act like this and just keep your eyes open.

If you are thinking of heading off to Muscat then you really shouldn't have too many problems as attitudes are very diffrent there from 'provincial' Oman. I can tell you some horror stories but wouldn't want to put you off.........

[zakiah25]

VS
Yes, you are right about the driving in Kuwait, it is terrible! However, I've personally witnessed a few horror accidents in Oman so I suppose I'm a little prejudiced. Once, we had a minibus from our college involved in an accident - the driver and 14 students were incinerated. Also, at one of the Teachers Colleges that I visit, they have a notice board with pictures of car accidents that the College students have been involved in - probably displayed as a deterrant or some form of aversion therapy. Out on the country roads, you not only have to watch out for wandering camels and goats but for reckless Bedu drivers who don't bother with road rules. Recently, one came charging out of a side street in Ibra and crashed into one of our teacher's cars. Then just took off without stopping.
As I have to visit many schools in Oman, I see road accidents on a daily basis and seeing dead bodies on the side of the road is a common occurrence.
In spite of these things, I do agree that Oman is better for driving than other places in the Middle East.
I have heard a rumour that they are thinking of trialling an ambulance service. The road from Muscat to Salalah is an absolute nightmare - it's so long and boring that people just seem to lose concentration when driving along it.
regards
Zakiah

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Zakiah,

Every morning in Kuwait taking the university bus to our campus, we would count the newly crumpled hulks on the roadside and this was in the city. I bet they have the highest driving death toll of any urban space of its size and population. Oman certainly has too many accidents, and the worst of them would be out where you are driving. The lack of ambulance service is certainly a point. If you are in an accident, having some passing folks toss you into the back of their pickup seems to add to your risk. Not funny really, but this is a fact of life in so much of the world.

Middle East drivers do have this tendency to just pull out without looking. I never quite figured out if it was their attitude of assuming God's protection (insha'Allah) or just a bad habit. I was in a fender bender with a friend in Egypt - he pulled out of a parking spot without looking and was run into. After strangely quiet and