Shipping to Oman
Nestled neatly between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, Oman is a largely undiscovered gem on the cusp of the Arabian Peninsula with far more to it than just sun and sand. Although largely overshadowed by its neighbouring Gulf States, Oman’s isolation has largely worked in its favour as the country has avoided the large amounts of violence and political turmoil that have threatened the region. Oman has since positioned itself as an incredibly safe and stable patch of the Middle East and a modest social alternative to the hedonism of Dubai and other glitzy Emirates.
That’s not to say however that Omani life is without its riches. There are many expats pursuing brilliant working opportunities with high salaries in a number of growth sectors such as finance and petrochemicals. One of the great incentives for expats is that there is no personal or income tax levied against monthly salaries. The combination of the above grants expats far greater purchasing power than they are used to back home which they can spend eating out in the abundance of high end restaurants or designer outlets and souks (open air markets) Oman has to offer.
Most expats settle in the highly rated Muscat, the port capital of Oman, but there is also an open air and adventurous lifestyle to be had outside of city limits where paddle boarding and scuba diving are fast becoming popular pastimes. Oman has an abundance of natural beauty, from spectacular mountains to thousands of kilometres of pristine coastline.
As a country largely based in the desert you could be forgiven for thinking that you’ll spend most of your time with little but sand beneath your feet, but Oman is also mountainous and coastal with weather that can change from rain to sandstorm in an instant. The mountains have long been a respite for Omanis and expats in the summer where the air is fresher, and the night skies are subtle pastel shades of cobalt blue.
Relocation to Oman indeed has many positives, however life here is not all a dusty fairy-tale. Like the rest of the Gulf states, Oman is an Islamic country and takes faith incredibly seriously.
Expats moving here will have to adjust to and respect local customs which may seem far removed from what they are used to. The summers are also incredibly hot and humid which can take some adjusting to. Those expats able to withstand the heat and respect Omani customs will no doubt be rewarded with access to a large and flourishing expat community with lots of opportunities to socialise and lead an exotic lifestyle unlike that of home.
Survey
Our experienced surveyor will visit your home to conduct a pre-move survey to ascertain the volume of effects being shipped. This involves a surveyor walking through the property room by room noting what items are to be exported and recording it on their electronic tablet. A written quotation will follow within 48 hours.
Storage
White & Company has storage facilities at 19 storage locations throughout the UK all providing secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers. Our trusted partners in Oman are also able to offer storage should you require it.
Packing
When our quotation has been accepted and a move date has been secured, the vehicle and removal team will arrive at your home. The removal team will proceed to export pack and wrap all items being shipped and load them onto a suitable vehicle for delivery to our closest depot, or for full loads to your home in Oman.
Shipping
Upon arrival at your local depot all effects are transferred to the export warehouse to await loading into a 20ft or 40ft container. The container is booked with the shipping line onto the first available vessel destined to the closest port of entry to your final destination in Oman.
Moving to Oman? Get a Quick Quote
Working in Oman
Oman has emerged as a major economic player in the Gulf region and has provided employment opportunities to expats for many years with more than a quarter of Oman’s population being expats. The government is rumoured to hold long term plans to ease the country’s reliance on foreign workers but for the moment nothing official has been announced.
Like other nations in the Gulf, oil is the mainstay of the economy and provides a large proportion of the GDP, however fishing and agriculture are also vitally important to the economy. Oman’s main foreign employment sector is in Petrochemicals but there are also vacancies in the Oil and Gas, Banking and Financial Services, IT and Telecoms sectors, as well as a variety of teaching jobs available.
Tourism in Oman has grown considerably recently, and it is expected to be one of the largest industries in the country in the coming years, particularly to the capital.
Getting a visa to work in Oman is a straightforward process but as you can only get a work visa via a sponsoring employer they normally assist with the process.
For more information on researching and finding a job see the below sites:
Property
It has only been possible for expats to buy property in the country very recently following a government decision to incentivise foreign investment in the region. There are however certain constraints and properties available to expatriates are restricted to freehold properties within certain tourist complexes. These currently are:The Wave, Muscat Golf and Country Club and Blue City.
Having purchased a property, the buyers and immediate family are granted residency and will need to apply for the appropriate visas. As a rough guide, if you are purchasing a home in Oman the price per square metre of real estate in Muscat is Omani Rial 900 (£1751). This drops to Omani Rial 460 (£895) on the outer regions of the city.
Renting is a popular option among expats who for one reason or another opt to rent before deciding to buy. To rent a family sized home in the centre of the city the cost is approximately Omani Rial 457 (£889) per month. On the outskirts this drops to around Omani Rial 318 (£619).
For further information on buying or renting property in Oman, visit the following web sites:
Schools
The government of Oman has accorded high priority to education which is considered a vital factor in the country’s economic and social progress for the future. Before 1970, there were only three state schools in Oman. Today there are over 1,000 and about 650,000 students.
There is no provision for state education for foreigners. However there is an increasing number of good international schools to reflect the rise in expat arrivals. Most of these are based in the capital, Muscat, and many of these schools offer the British or American curriculum, with many also offering the International Baccalaureate programme.
For a list of international schools please visit the following web sites:
General Information
Moving to Oman is a thrilling opportunity, but also one that requires dedication, plenty of organisation and time to research.
For some helpful tips and information on settling into life in Oman, visit some of the many Expat forums online:
www.expatwoman.com
www.expatarrivals.com
www.internations.org/oman-expats
Travel
There is no viable public transport system although, the National Transport Company is working towards a more developed service. Muscat is the only city which has a relatively good service. Some long distance busses operate in Muscat and are cheap to use but there is no rail service to the rest of the country. Taxis are plentiful, but be prepared to negotiate a price before you start your journey.
Due to the inhospitably hot weather and lack of clearly marked pathways driving within the safety of an air-conditioned vehicle is usually the only option for expats. The road infrastructure is good, with duel carriageways connecting major towns and cities and many employment contracts include a personal driver. Because of the low tax on imports, it far cheaper to own and run a car in Oman compared to the UK and you can drive on your International driver’s licence. If you are applying for permanent residency, you will need to change over to an Omani licence once it has been issued.
Healthcare
Omani nationals and those from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries receive free medical treatment in public hospitals in Oman but foreigners and non-residents must pay for their health care. Treatment is very expensive and you usually pay upfront.
Hospital treatment is of a high standard due to heavy investment over the past few years. Many of the systems medical staff are expats and speak good levels of English. Irrespective of your circumstances it is important to ensure that you have adequate medical insurance in place before you arrive in Oman. The most highly rated private hospitals in Oman include: Starcare Hospital and Altas Hospital both are situated in Muscat.
Pharmacies are plentiful and most are open 24 hours. Please note that tranquilisers, anti-depressants and sleeping pills have been banned by the Omani Health Ministry.
The following companies provide health care insurance for Oman:
Shipping My Effects to Oman
The whole moving experience can be incredibly stressful, especially so when relocating abroad. White & Company, with its 145 years of experience in the removal industry, can help make the process a lot less traumatic.
White & Company move thousands of families around the globe each year and have branches all over the UK. We can arrange a free no obligation home survey and quotation. This will be carried out by one of our qualified surveyors, who will be able to answer any of the questions and concerns you may have and offer advice where necessary.
The purpose of the survey is to determine the volume of effects you will be shipping. The cost of shipment is based on the space your effects will take up in our vehicle if transportation is by road and in a container if being shipped by sea. Following the visit, you will receive a written quotation.
Export Packing UK to Oman
You will want to know that during your door-to-door service, your possessions are treated with respect and care. Our experienced teams located across the UK will pack and prepare your valuable, fragile and bulky furniture ready for export.
We use a modern range of environmentally friendly, purpose-made packing materials and can pack everything for you prior to your move. All china and glassware will be wrapped in special paper and then packed in double-thickness cartons. Furniture can be wrapped in bubble blanket for extra protection. Items requiring specialist care, such as antiques, can be packed in made-to-measure wooden crates.
Upon arrival at your residence in Oman, our trusted agents will place boxes and furniture in appropriate rooms as directed. They will unpack your belongings onto flat surfaces and dispose of all packing materials.
Storage Provision
You may find you need to store some or all of your possessions for a period of time prior to moving abroad. It is good to know that White & Company have storage facilities at all our branch depots across the UK. Our depots offer secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers. All our warehouses are clean, dry, secure and accredited to European standard BS EN 14873.
Our partners in Oman can also offer you storage. You may be renting for a while and may not need all of your effects to be delivered immediately. If so you can arrange for certain items to be delivered and once settled in your new home, the rest can follow. Please note that storage rates may apply.
Currency Conversion
The official currency of Oman is the Omani Rial (OMR), which is divided into 1,000 baisa. Opening and running a bank account is easy and efficient and ATMs are widespread throughout Oman’s cities and towns.
When you are relocating to a new country, making sure you get the best currency exchange rate possible is crucial. Moving large amounts of money, such as when you purchase a new home, could potentially increase your return substantially.
If you want to beat your banks rates and services, simply contact our trusted FX partners. Opening an account with them couldn’t be simpler and it is totally free of charge. You can compare their rates with your own bank and see how much you can save.
Contacting White & Company
For further information on our removals service to Oman, or any other international destination, contact our international office on 01489 858660 Alternatively complete the form below with your details and we will contact you.
White & Company
Providing International Removals since 1871
We recommend a visit from one of our Surveyors for all International moves, so that we can assess your requirements, and the volume of goods to be moved.
Popular Places to Relocate in Oman
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