Job Discussion Forums

SaharaDesert · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 260

If you had a choice between UAE and Oman...would you go with the UAE and why ?

johnslat · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 10:48 pm Post subject:

Dear SaharaDesert,

I'd go with Oman, but . . . why would anyone choose the UAE?

In a word: M-O-N-E-Y.

Regard$,
John

SaharaDesert · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 260

Thanks for the response.

I think I will go for Oman too.

More culture and beautiful country! Right ?

johnslat · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:20 pm Post subject:

Dear SaharaDesert,

Yup - and, generally speaking, nicer folk, too.

Regards,
John

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

It would also depend on the job.

VS

Vancouver Vic · Joined: 18 Aug 2011 Posts: 37

The people in Oman are soooo much nicer than the Emiratis - friendlier and not so stuck up. However, saying that, money is higher in the UAE, as has been said by previous respondents. Depends on what you are looking for.

uaeobserver · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 236

Hey folks - happy birthday UAE.

To answer the question - There's interesting initiatives in Oman.

Caveats:

Fewer malls to spend your money in
More eyes focused on you
Fewer dating opportunities

Benefits
Lower cost of living
Oman remains what the UAE used to be like
Family friendly
Wadis!
Mountains!
Salalah

Badar Bin Bada Boom · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 5:10 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject:

Do you like urban life or the outdoors?

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.268073779883922.69770.217277874963513&type=1

Wadi you think?

Regards,
John

Gus Barkley · Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Posts: 78

To the larger topic, I love the UAE and Oman but I'm happy to be working in the UAE. For me it is certainly because of more things to do... but I'm curious. I teach in a content area, not ESL and I have only met a few with the same job I have in Oman (sample size of 2, but at similar institutions). I was surprised that they make about 1/3 of my salary.

I really like the scenery of Oman and the Omani people are great but I wouldn't consider taking a 2/3 pay cut to work there.

Perhaps the discrepancy is caused by my sample size of 2 and I was talking to low-wage outliers. Nonetheless, is the gap anywhere close to that large for ESL instructors?

SaharaDesert · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 260

John,
Those photos of the wadis are gorgeous!

To everyone else:

I did not like Dubai because I did not feel like I was experiencing any
culture. The city is just "bling bling".
It was also very hard to meet Emiratis.

I feel like if I go to Oman it will be easier to experience real culture
and easy to meet Omanis. Am I right or wrong ?

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

It is certainly easier to meet Omanis in Oman than it is to meet Emiratis in the UAE or Qataris in Qatar... but not as easy as getting to know Egyptians in Egypt. Cool

VS

Badar Bin Bada Boom · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:05 pm Post subject:

I'm sure they wanted to meet you, VS. Maybe with a little pincherino. As I walked the streets of Cairo trying to get to know my fiancee a little better--if the locals would frigging let me--I discovered everybody was my friend. Yah--they said so. "Hey, my friend!" they called. They had stuff to sell. Meanwhile back in the hotel, impudent bellboys went on an on about beautiful she was.

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

As with many countries, it is quite different living and working as an expat than it is as a tourist hanging out where it is mainly other tourists. Laughing

The leering hoards that then filled areas like Tahrir Square were different from your neighbors on your street and the clerk in your local shops. One learns to deal with all kinds as a woman on her own.

VS

Mushakil · Joined: 16 Nov 2011 Posts: 35 Location: UAE

I lived and worked in Oman and UAE

Oman is very natural, lower in pay, people are friendlier. You would actually get invited over for lunch. It may be easier to save because they isn't a lot to spend your money on. There are also nice beaches, wadis and villages. It
has preserved its culture more. The expat community is very tight nit. Large amount of Omani people, some who are now Omani but originally from Africa and parts of Pakistan. Small amounts of westerners. Fair amount of Indian people doing various labor projects but you will see a lot of Omanis participating in society such as taxi drivers and in shops. Omani men are more harassing to women as there is such a small amount of expat women and they have less exposure modernization in western terms.

UAE has a lot of western comforts, you know that obscure cheddar cheese you can find at the grocery store Spinneys. Or lavish Sunday buffets for $30 at hotels. The Emiratis tend to not want a relationship with expats. They can be arrogant. Perhaps this is perpetuated by easy jobs from the government with inflated salaries. As a result you will never see an Emirati doing a menial job and they outsource these jobs to everyone. The dynamics of the population is UAE is at least 60% indian and pakistani, 10% western expat, 10% philipino 15% arab mixture 5%. These are just my mental statistics.

Both countries are culturally diverse and each have a lot to offer.