Job Discussion Forums

huntjuliehunt · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 87

I've searched the forums and seem to only find experiences with schools. I am curious how far the university is from malls, a movie theater (?), shops, cafes. If you don't have a car in Sohar, are you screwed? Is there anything to do there? Is there a fitness center? Do they have a grocery store that might carry soy "meat" and milk? Am I dreaming?

windstar · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 235

There is not much in Sohar honestly. It is a green, dont expect too much. I doubt if there is a movie theatre. You may have to drive to Muscat which is 240 kms from sohar. One of my friend was working in Sohar and now quit. There is almost no social life as they said.

flowerchild of the future · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 6

I live in Sohar and we have....a Lulu, a Safeer and a newly opened Home centre. No cinema as yet, but the new Safeer mall is due to open this year and there are rumours of a cinema going in there. Lulu carries several different brands of soya milk ranging from chocolate to organic, although i havent found quorn in 'mince' style they do sell tofu in hard, firm and silken. Re coffee shops, usual arabic style in the souq and there is a 'western' style one upstairs in lulu next to the Body Shop. Fitness centre - there is one at the Sohar Beach Hotel and probably going to be a (better) one in the new crowne Plaza which is due to be finished in may - allegedly! let me know if there is anything else you'd like info on...

Geronimo · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 498

Hi huntjuliehunt,

I'm not sure whether or not you would be 'screwed' in Sohar if you didn't have a car; but I am certain that most English teachers working in Sohar own a vehicle. The question is:- 'Do I buy a saloon car or a 4WD?'

Concerning the social scene (or lack thereof) - may I suggest that you take a look at:- http://www.geocities.com/soharsg/committee.html and www.soharmusicfestival.com .

The Sohar Aluminium company is developing its operations at its Al Batinah site and moving a sizeable number of expats into the area. This transfer is likely to give Sohar's social scene a boost in the next few years.
http://www.apexstuff.com/bt/200709/sohar.asp

Geronimo
Convoluted aphorisms are both tiresome and pretentious.

Zajko · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject:

There's a nice enough corniche, a couple of bars (Sohar Beach Hotel has an overpriced expat bar with pool table, plus a cheaper bar downstairs and another at the Al Wadi Hotel) a sports/health club, a couple of big shopping malls which a previous poster just mentioned, and a few shops in the 'town centre'...precious little else but it's a nice enough town for all that.

YES, you really do need a car - or at the very least a good friend with one. It's a pleasant place to be based if you're mobile - within reach of both Muscat and UAE/Dubai (once your road permit is sorted out) but I think you'll find it quite a different experience without a set of wheels.

huntjuliehunt · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 87

I'm tempted to think that the teachers in Oman are a jollier bunch than the teachers in Saudi Arabia. I know that some of them read and post on both forums, but I keep getting nice responses here. Thank you!

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject: No jollies in Saudi

Dear huntjuliehunt,
I'm hurt. On the other hand, you might have a point; there's not a whole lot to be "jolly" about in the Kingdom.
I mean, look at what it's done to scot47 (though, being a dour Scot from birth may have had something to do with that.)
Regards,
John

huntjuliehunt · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 87

So Scot47 is a Scot? I thought he was just a Scott with a t missing. Well, on mybehalf, he is forgiven half of his ESL sins against humanity.

janejohn · Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: ME or Oz

Zajko, or anyone who knows,

Sorry for being ignorant, but what's the deal with the road permit?
I was planning to drive into UAE during my second weekend in Oman
in a hirecar.
Will this be feasible? I was under the impression that I could drive with my Australian or UAE licence until the Omani licence came through.

Thanks

ETG · Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 67

I don't think you need a road permit any longer so it's not a problem

You will have to go to the police and apply for an Omani licence yourself, the form is in Arabic so you will the assistance of your company, but not a big deal, just go early

Zajko · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject:

It was a year or so back when I was last down that way, so things may have changed since: but it always used to be the case when driving in your own vehicle from Oman to the UAE that you needed a 'road permit' to enable you to cross the land border and return again. This is only for residents of Oman, of course. Easy enough to obtain with a No Objection letter from your employer, a form, a passport photo, a few rials and a week or two's wait (you can get one road permit valid for a year and re-use it as many times as you like) but you couldn't get through without it.

I see someone mentioned the rules may have recently changed in this regard - be interesting to know if anyone has definite knowledge of this?

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

First off, not all rental cars can be taken across the border, so you need to check with the company you have rented it from. Legally, you can't drive with your foreign license once you are a resident - nor can an expat use a GCC license in another GCC country - only nationals can do that. Not that you probably couldn't get away with it before your papers are completed.

Not sure if the road pass is still needed. Our Admin guy could get one in a couple days, but plan ahead in case yours is not as efficient.

Getting the Omani license is easy. I had mine within days of my arrival. Your employer will give the papers needed and it normally takes an hour or so unless you hit a bad day. Cool

BTW... don't tell them you have a UAE license or they will make you give it to them before you can get the Omani one. Just use your Oz license.

VS

lotsa · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Oman

If you have a rental car all you need to do is get the paperwork arranged thru the rental company and you are on your way (this is how its done thru Budget anyhow).

In terms of licences, the ROP (Police) have clamped down recently but mostly on those coming from the Far East. They do seem to accept most Commonwealth country licences without much problem, although recently I heard of an Australian who had a lot of strife receiving an Omani licence. BTW, the ROP seem to have a quota per month for failing those that are required to sit the practical test (its almost become an income generator) and those that are failed regularly are from India and Pakistan. I know of one Indian chap who has sat the test five times and was failed five times although he has been driving for 15 years!!! (but maybe he wasn't so good anyhow!).

Duffy · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 449 Location: Oman

Seem to remember reading somewhere and I can't for the life of me remember where, that certain categories of professionals (Omani & non-Omani), where exempted for the need of producing road permits when travelling within the Middle Easdt (Saudi Arabia excepted of course) , one of those being teachers. Anyone know any more on this??

Duffy Shocked

Zajko · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:14 am Post subject:

As of March / April 2007 you still needed a road permit to drive your own car (or a hire car, I believe) across the UAE / Oman border IF you were an Omani resident - this included for teachers. It's possible this may have changed since but if so, I hadn't heard anything about it until it came up in this discussion.