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

Meters would be a good idea and actually I was surprised that Oman didn't have them. (Abu Dhabi did even in the early 90s though Dubai didn't) I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for receipts though.

Why not suggest that your students add it to their list of demands? Laughing

VS

lizziebennet · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 355

In Singapore they always offered receipts. Apparently a number of companies pay for their employees to get to and from work. If employees would like to claim the money for taxis they take to work they need to show receipts. It is a pretty organised system.

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

Singapore is a world of its own - even in that far end of Asis. I don't think one would ever really try to compare Singapore with anywhere in the Middle East as to efficiency of systems. Laughing

VS

urbanversion · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 426

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

Economics is irrelevant. There is an overriding thing called... culture. And you would have to be very very very green in the Middle East to think this part of the world could ever be like Singapore or any other busy bustling successful city in the Far East. They share neither the work ethic nor the cultural goals.

Pretty much a laughable idea... Rather like how we would respond when Dubai was talked about as becoming the "Hong Kong of the Middle East." Laughing

VS

urbanversion · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 426

Cairoteach · Joined: 06 Mar 2011 Posts: 11 Location: Maadi

I think taxis will write out a receipt. I never asked for one. If I ever felt iffy about a driver I would pull out my cell and pretend to be talking to my husband - I'd even ask the driver his name and say it into the phone. It seemed to keep things on the up-and-up.

Dress like you did in the Gulf. I've found Omani men to be the most respectful men in the Arab countries I've been in. Not sure why.

Warning Bells · Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Posts: 87 Location: Always Changes

Man, is this lady moving to Singapore or Oman!? Why even compare the two when she is specifically asking about Oman (Muscat in particular)? As for Oman, there are some extremely rude teenage males who say the rudest things imaginable to women in Arabic, especially foreign women. The east Asian migrant workers can't help themselves when it comes to staring at uncovered women. You being a blonde will make you a prime target for stares and unwelcome gestures.

As for the housing all over Oman, don't get your hopes up too high. The Asian workers hired to construct the apartments do a disasterous job. They make a total mess out of the best materials because they are either incompetent or just couldn't care less about doing a half way decent job. Oman is said to have a housing crisis on their hands!

Warning Bells · Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Posts: 87 Location: Always Changes

qahirii · Joined: 05 Apr 2011 Posts: 11

no time to read all the responses, so sorry if there's repetition.

*taxis: owning a taxi is a way of getting a government loan for a car, so many omanis own one without ever taking customers. this is less a problem in muscat than other places. the best thing is to make an arrangement with a reliable driver so you can call and schedule rides rather than having to find one.

a woman getting in a taxi alone takes a risk in any country, oman is no exception, though no worse than anywhere else...

*driving test: do NOT pay any driving instructor ANY money until someone you know and trust has recommended them. the test has some strange nuances, and "instructors" are known to NOT prepare you so you can keep coming back to them (and paying for every $e$$ion too, of course)

*prices: for your shopping/pampering needs, know that oman is exorbitantly expensive, as expensive as the UK, and easily twice as expensive as KSA/UAE. you can find most of what you want though...

hope this helps.

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

Yeah, but what about the receipts in Singapore?

urbanversion · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 426

Or why no meters Laughing

happyroofus · Joined: 08 Oct 2010 Posts: 80 Location: Middle East

Qahirii's pretty much bang on re: Omani driving teachers. However, a few months back, there was a decree to have all driving instructors obtain certification (whatever that means) and they cannot hold it as a part-time job any longer. Not sure why anyone would want to do their driving test in Oman though..

And yes, the country has become quite expensive, at least compared to what it was. Our average food & household items bill comes in at over 90 OMR per month alone and we don't even live in Muscat (and why we don't ever go for the pork/sausage choices!). In addition, airport taxes from Muscat are also extremely high, as are taxis (unless you share with 3/4 others), and clothes from any of the Malls.