Job Discussion Forums

[usa_in_gulf]

Hi! I am moving to Ibri! I am pretty well informed as to the lifestyle I will be living in Ibri, but can anyone give me information on rent in the area? All the information I have found-which is pretty slim- says that housing is "cheap"--but that doesn't tell me much! Does anyone have some current information about housing rental in the Ibri area?

Thanks in advance for anyone's help!

[usa_in_gulf]

Since there doesn't seem to be too much -- if any-- information about Ibri--thought I would leave some myself in case anyone needs it in the future!
1. Housing: Not too difficult to find and cheap! Rented a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2 sitting room home with large yard..220 OR. This seems to be the norm for the area. Apartments can be rented for about 120 OR.

2. Restaurants: Numerous but all of the same variety! Rice and chicken, rice and beef... rice and rice....

3. Shopping: No shopping malls.. Ibri is small..but everything you need is available...just need to look. The only problem I would see would be for Western style clothing.. but as far as food and household supplies.. its here.

4. Work Hours: 7 hours a day (outside Ramadan).. 5 days a week...

All I can think of right now!

[veiledsentiments]

Just curious... but do you have a family with you? Why would you want 3 bedrooms and 3 baths? Or did you just want a yard?

Did you have to furnish the place or was it furnished?

VS

[usa_in_gulf]

My kids are in university..its just my husband and myself here. Houses are more plentiful than apartments here. I have found that most single people have even rented houses.

House was offered furnished--but rented unfurnished--have our own furniture.

[veiledsentiments]

Ah... the old 'bring the container from Kuwait' trick. (been there, done that) My new employer offered furnished flats and was rather nonplussed that I had my own.

Having a garden is nice, but most of the villas are so large in this part of the world that I would feel like a little pea rattling around. In both Oman and the UAE, I even downsized to a smaller flat than the one provided.

How about tailors? Even living in Muscat, I never bought clothes from the shops, but used the great tailors.

VS

[usa_in_gulf]

Even though the house we rented is quite roomy--its rather small compared to our house in Kuwait! Even though 3 bed/3bath is more than we need--when you compare it to 12 bed/7 bath.. its small!

Even though Ibri is small-- they have more than thier share of tailors!

[veiledsentiments]

What more could one need?

Well... once you have a car.

Thanks for updating the local information for the next searchers!!

VS

[PierogiMonster]

Well, what with PM'sExcellentIbriAdventure rapidly approaching, I'm starting to look around for specific details, including re. rentals. So, thanks, usa_in_gulf for your previous postings.

Has the situation changed much in the last year? Apartments still going from 120OR and houses for 220OR?

Also, what's the local definition of unfurnished/furnished? ie. can I expect unfurnished to have all necessary kitchen and bathroom fittings/white goods (cooker, fridge etc)? And is aircon standard or should I read the small print?

Reading other posts, I see that upfront payments range from one to six months? Of course, I'd prefer the one-month variety: is it hard to come by / should I negotiate?

And, generally, what kind of help in flat/househunting do you think I can realistically expect from:-

a) TATI
b) Ibri College
c) The Hand of God
d) None of the above?

Of course, if any current or ex-Ibri teachers have any leads or recommendations, PierogiMonster would be most obliged.

[veiledsentiments]

[santivalle]

Has the situation changed much in the last year? Apartments still going from 120OR and houses for 220OR?
And, generally, what kind of help in flat/househunting do you think I can realistically expect from:-
a) TATI
b) Ibri College
c) The Hand of God
d) None of the above?
Of course, if any current or ex-Ibri teachers have any leads or recommendations, PierogiMonster would be most obliged.[/quote]

Hi there
Well, I recently finished my contract in Ibri - pure hell !!! I would never advise anyone to work for Ibri College of Technology. Apartments in Ibri are rare, so expensive (OMR200-350), rarely furnished and you have to buy your own airconditioners, and no kind of life at all.
The expats working there have nothing better to do than gossip and fight amongst themselves. The acting dean doesn't care to stick his neck out about anything. The HOD is a brit who knows nothing about running a department, never mind a cleaning team.
I hated every moment of my time in Ibri. Muscat or Salalah are much better options.
As for TATI/GlobNet/Bahwan - they have an agreement between the three of them, so they are all the same. One word sums it up. USELESS. Don't expect much from them once they have you in Ibri.
If you want to work in Ibri just to get a foot in the door, know that you will spend a lot of money to get away on weekend. On the plus side - Dubai is closer than Muscat to Ibri.
Ibri College of Applied Sciences have a better rep, from what I understand.
All in all, good luck to everyone. Oman in itself is a great place to be, once you get to know your way around.

[veiledsentiments]

Very confusing when you don't use the quotes correctly. I suggest that you hit the edit button in the top right of your post, and delete the half of that post that isn't from you.

VS
(sorry it was a bad experience... many of these small colleges in the hinterlands can be difficult.)