Expats in Oman: The Desert Jewel

Expatriates: Living and working in Oman

Almost 6,000 kilometres from Spain is Oman, one of the most developed and stable Arab countries. It is located in southwest Asia and is one of the eight countries of the Persian Gulf. It borders the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Yemen to the southwest and Saudi Arabia to the west. Oman is currently ruled by an absolute monarchy in which the Sultan exercises full authority, except for some powers which he shares with parliament.

In the past, the sultanate was a staging post for the main trade routes to Africa. In the 17th century it was one of the most influential empires, along with Portugal and Britain, in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Since the 20th century it has been heavily influenced by the UK, with which it maintains strong political and military ties, along with the US. Although the economy is controlled by the monarchy, since 2000 the country has undergone a liberalisation process to decouple the economy and trade from political power and to facilitate the privatisation of mining exports.

The The country's main sources of wealth are natural gas and oil, The country is extracting around 900,000 barrels of crude oil a day, but due to dwindling reserves, the country is moving towards the end of its oil production. diversification and seeks to attract new industries such as the tourism and thus reduce its energy dependence.

Working in Oman

The most sought-after job profiles in the country are those related to the food sector. construction and engineeringin addition to those professions dedicated to the oil exploitation. In order to work in the sultanate you need to have a work visa which will be handled by the Omani company once the employment contract is made. The permit usually takes one or two months and is valid for two years. A medical examination is also required to obtain the permit.

In the case of entrepreneurs who want to start a new business in the country, should look for a Omani partner to which they must give the 30% of the shares of the new company. In addition, the business must comply with the omanisation' rate and hire a minimum percentage of Omani employees.

Places to visit

• At Muscat, the capital of the sultanate, you can see a multitude of markets among which the main souk, one of the most important in the sultanate, stands out. large covered markets in the world.
• The country also has one of the world's largest mosques in the worldthe Great Mosque of the Sultan Qabus Ibn Said, which can hold 20,000 worshippers.
• Duqm is one of the best-known port cities in the country and with further development at the present time.
• Jebel Akhdar or the green mountain is an elevation of about 3000 metres conquered by palm trees, highly recommended for trekking enthusiasts.

Culture

It should be recalled that Oman is a Muslim country The country has a multitude of laws and prohibitions on various issues, including those related to the consumption of pork products, alcohol and clothing. The sultanate shows great importance to cultural beliefs.

The country's climate is divided into two seasons, with pleasant temperatures from late October to March and fairly high temperatures the rest of the year.

Curiosities

• The 80% of the territory of the sultanate is desertincluding a part of the so-called Empty DistrictThe largest area covered with sand on the planet.
• Oman is one of the world's main sources of frankincense. and it is a tradition that there is always one in the house.
• In 2010, he was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme as one of the most improved countries in the last 40 years.
• Omani people are obliged to enter the cities with a clean car, and it is curious to note how most of them stop on the outskirts to polish their car; they are also forbidden to throw cigarette butts on the ground.

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Photo: The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is the third largest mosque in the world.

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