Job Discussion Forums

[fleart1]

I got an offer from Oman to live in 3 places
Sur
Sohar
Rustaq
I cant even find Rustaq on the map. Which would be the best place to live? Also, very important, what is the retirement age. I read above about Sohar cutting senior employees.
Please get back asap.

[McBrainiac]

I was also offered a job in Rustaq. It is isolated and there is nothing to do there, so I turned it down. Might be OK for somebody single, though.

[Neil McBeath]

Dear Fleart,

There is no quick answer to this one.

Rustaq is closest to the Capital Area. It's a small town, quite atttactive, and near the mountains, which means there's no humidity in the Summer. It's also very central, so if you want to travel in the interior, its possible to do so via the network of roads that go through Wadi beni Ghafar.

In the other direction, it is not far from the Suwadi Beach Resort, and there is a string of small towns along the Batinah Coast. It would be best to have your own vehicle, but it is possible to get around using baisa buses, taxis and, I believe, the Oman National Transport scheduled service.

Sur is south of the Capital Area, about 300 km from Muscat. It's bigger than Rustaq, beside the sea, and more or less on the tourist circuit. There is at least one major hotel, and because it's the end of the line it is easy to get up through the Sharquiyya to the Capital if you want to.

Sohar is currently a boom town. The government is expanding the industrial base and they are also building a major new port. Other threads on Dave's have suggested that renting accommodation is/was(?) disproportionately expensive. There's a university, two or three new hotels, but the town is spead out. It stretches for 15 to 20 Km along the shore and, like Sur, it can be VERY sticky in the middle of the year.

From Sohar to the Capital Area it would take approximately 90 minutes in a taxi, a bit longer if you are travelling by baisa bus or by ONTC. Sohar would, of course, be the best choice is you are thinking of visiting the UAE.

[fleart1]

Well I am going to save money. Is Sur much cheaper in housing and cost of living or just slightly cheaper?

[Neil McBeath]

At the moment, housing costs in Sur are far cheaper than those in Sohar. But who is paying for your accommodation? If your employer is footing the bill, then you will not benefit much either way.

Cost of living might actually be cheaper in Sohar. There is a major new hypermarket at the principal roundabout - Lulu, I think - and so prices there could well be the same as in the Capital Area. Sur, by contrast, might have slightly higher prices - nothing major in themselves, but the sort of thing that builds up over a period of time.

[Geronimo]

Is the MoHE providing you with accommodation as part of your remuneration package, Fleart1 ? If so, the difference in total living expenses between Sohar and Sur is going to be marginal.

There is, as Neil McBeath points out, a sizeable Lulu hypermarket not far from Sohar College; and a sizeable Safeer center, too. I doubt that shopping in either will reduce weekly shopping bills relative to those in Sur, though, as their wider selections of goods will serve up more temptations to spend money.

Will you be making weekend trips to destinations such as Dubai? If so, hotel bills will set back the savings totals.

[fleart1]

Well, since somebody told me that hooking up a satellite TV would run about $750.00USD (350 omen) I have decided not to go. Housing and food would be enough expenses but something like that is nuts.

[Neil McBeath]

OR 350 for a satellite TV hook up seems a bit much. Are you sure about the accuracy of that figure??

Of course, you could always go without TV. It is another way to save money.

[Sleepwalker]

Unless things have changed since I was there - you can buy a dish and receiver very cheaply and there are several English channels now eg Dubai 1, MBC 2, 4 and Action.

My friends tell me they serve up the usual menu of US comedies and series and they can channel surf for sport.