Life as a female expat in Oman

As a lady who lived in Oman for 2 years and is soon to return, I can say a fair bit about this. Firstly, don't worry. You have very little to fear in Oman. It is very safe. I walked around Qurum at all hours of the day and night and not once did I feel in danger. However, men driving past can be an incredible nuisance. They will stop and ask if you want a ride, ask for your phone number and some will try to put their numbers on a piece of paper and give it to you, throw it at you or try to put it in your bag. They ARE harmless as a general rule, but they are very annoying. Be strong with them and don't give them any attention. The old John Cena line comes to mind XD It is very unlikely they will hurt you, just ignore them or shout at them until they leave you alone. They can be persistent and drive past you several times. It's amusing they think so highly of themselves. All ages of men. From 17 to 90+ years old, they are liable to stop XD Just ignore or shout at them. You can report their number plate to the police if they persist too much. However, there are a lot of gentleman there as well who will help you.

Honestly, you shouldn't experience that many difficulties. It depends what you get up to in your spare time. On the whole, don't worry. It's a little difficult to socialise, as the events are sparse and they have a tendency to be full of guys looking to pick up girls. I was the only girl at an Internations event for half an hour until a friend of mine appeared. XD There's no problem to be nice to them, but be very clear about your boundaries with them. Have a taser Sometimes they will need a zzzt. The men in Oman, both Omani and non-Omani tend to treat social media as dating websites so be wary of that. I have messages on this website as well XD You can sign up to Internations. They do have events but try to get to know some of the ladies in the attendance list prior to going so you know somebody at least. You can sign up to a gym as well and get to know people that way (again, keep that taser handy for the boys). There are plenty of places to eat and there are the major malls. I liked the Internations events. You can add me there - Samantha Horton (FEMALES ONLY for anyone else who reads this!).

Just relax, the lifestyle in Oman is very relaxed

Hello!

what do you know about living together!

me and my partner want to come over, do you have to be married to live together!? thanks ☺️☺️

Well base on my experience  here in Oman are not all happy and easy.  I struggle also but in my beliefs and strength to fight for my children  back home I surpass almost 6 years.  This is my first work out side in my country first time I came here. I set up my mind that I can do it.  I do a lot of sufferings also. You need to do a good camaraderie to your colluege  even you are the same nationality.  Years pass I do learn they culture  and the way of their  life to some people  I talked  before. I read magazine here I search in google the English newspaper to know what is happening here. I do so many good memories? To stay in the country you need to have patience obey the rules and!

For Rachel!
Oh yes, unmarried partners in Oman. You know, people are people all over the world, and I will be blunt about this, people sleep together every day and night in Oman just as they do outside of Oman, unmarried and married. Omani and non-Omani. If you stay in hotels, you will see Omani couples stop by... They may be married, but they may not be. Many of them are not. Some girls will try to conceal their identity by covering their face, but interestingly they wear high heeled shoes that tap and have the latest manicure on their fingertips- don't let the 'holier than thou' attitude fool you. As long as they are not doing anything apparently wrong, police are not supposed to bother them. A serious niqabi wouldn't wear high heeled shoes. They are actually not really allowed in Islam as it changes the way the lady walks to attract a man, but they do. But this is not policed at all, as people need to make their personal choice to follow Islamic laws, not be forced by the law of the country. Manicures make wudu (islamic pre-prayer washing) invalid as well, so, don't be tricked. They are doing the same things as us. They just try to be more secretive about it. It's all happening, believe me.

The general rule is, don't be a public nuisance. As long as you don't annoy the public or expose yourself in public, you'll be fine. Regarding living together, when you rent an apartment, you only need one name on the contract. They often accept cheques only, and the name on the cheques doesn't have to be your name. Others might accept cash or other payment methods. As long as you don't make a huge song and dance with your partner, you should be fine. Neighbours can lodge noise complaints about you, so just keep to yourself.  I never had a complaint or an issue in the whole time I lived in my apartment complex in Qurum. Police can't do anything without proof. My partner was actually an Omani police officer  There are couples living together all over the place. Omani, non-Omani, mixed couples. Some couples getting together in cars - don't do that because people will complain for  sure, but some Omani and non Omani do it. JUST relax. That is the key. It won't be as different as you think it will be. If you rent an apartment personally, directly from the owner, maybe some of them will get an attitude about you being an unmarried couple, but there are plenty of real estate places all over the place. Just don't deal with them if you think they will be bothersome. Oman is not Saudi Arabia. You can go out for dinner, go shopping, see movies, all as normal with your partner as you would anywhere else. Please don't worry that much.

BTW, I am also a single female Muslim revert, and I'm very well aware of what goes on there and Islamic law. if you have some questions that are personal that you don't want to post, you can message me directly. MESSAGES FROM MEN WILL BE IGNORED! Don't even try if you are male. Men are such pests in Oman as a general rule. Omani and non Omani. If your partner is there they won't approach you, but you may well get texts on your social profiles.

If you live in Muscat, it shouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't talk about it too much, but here women keep their names and as much as I know, there are no real wedding rings, so nobody will know or care. Might be different in other places.

What are some positive aspects about being a female expat in Oman?
It is a safe country fro females expats as well . Female can go out any time to perform duty and always make herself safe. Females can move by using local transport and also get respect if they are using transport.

What are some challenges in Oman that women face, and what are the ways to overcome them?
As a professional and educated person i don't think women are facing any issue. Only if they have Omani driving license and they can drive than it will be more good for all the women.

How would a woman go about expanding her social network in a safe way?
Its depend upon woman to woman, what type of community she chose and what kind of social network she want to live. It is easy to expand social network at your own choice.

Are there any resources available for women to help with their expatriation (e.g. books, articles, support networks, etc.)?
I am not sure about it.

i agree with melops undulat

Please ping me your mobile number.

I have a job offer in Oman and considering to relocate there.

Thanks.

Hi I am Pakistan u friends