r/geography • u/Necessary_Wing799 Geography Enthusiast • 14d ago

Oman - a country rarely spoken about. What's happening there? Discussion

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Oman is located in a area we heat about a lot for an array of reasons - there are many famous and newsworthy spots close by from dubai to Doha to Iran and Yemen...... what goes on in Oman? Let us know how life is here and any relevant info on its current state....

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u/Necessary_Wing799 Geography Enthusiast 14d ago

Thanks for this detailed info, appreciate you taking the time to respond and so eloquently at that. Great information and perspective.

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u/Physical-Arrival-868 14d ago

My pleasure bro

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u/GTKPR89 13d ago

I'm American and lived there for 6 years during middle and high school in the 2000s. Absolutely lovely place. Among the international community and folks who've traveled or grown up in the region, it's pretty well remembered for being hospitable, modern, safe, etc. These are somewhat shallow concerns, but it matters.

On a deeper level Oman has balanced its fascinating, old culture with openness to development in a way that has a lot to with Sultan Qaboos' legacy. While they still struggle to find an outlet for their younger generation's talents (a lot of education, a lot of money, not that much industry) they are often trying to bring in new programs, new artistic communities, and have a fairly open work culture for women and men alike (in my experience and going by my female Omani friends).

The sea plays a big role in life, and the gulf coast itself, where Muscat is perched, is extraordinary. Salalah, as people have mentioned, in the South is spectacular and even lush, but Muscat is really the center of culture and industry, in its small way. Oman-US relations have long been strong, and they play quiet but pivotal roles in a lot of US diplomacy in the area.

For expats, its often a bit quiet - so it's not an "exciting" place to grow up, until you realize/value the landscape itself, the people, etc. There are storied Forts which are regular school visits. The Jebel Akhdar mountains are a great hike. There are numerous beautiful wadis - dry valleys between mountainways to hike as well. Local coffee culture is big: and coffee and shisha along the beachfront is always ful of life. Westerners working there tend to be in oil, embassy, or education. But tech is drawing more people, as are the arts to some degree.

Daily life is relaxed - Muscat is a small city. You can easily get to know it in a few years: though of course I can't claim to know nearly as much as someone from there would. There are famous souqs: open air markets, just a few minutes from a Western-style mall.

My friends and I would go shoot pool, watch a movie at the cinema, and hang out at the beach. Taxis and highway buses run up and down the main thoroughfare. Trips to other gulf countries are simple. Dubai is less than a 5 hour drive, if you want that sort of thing. Omanis are fairly open-minded in my experience, into the things you'd imagine, and much part of global online/pop culture as anyone. I miss it a lot!

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u/Physical-Arrival-868 13d ago

Did you go to TAISM or ABA?

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u/GTKPR89 13d ago

Ah, poor BSM can't get a mention?

TAISM in my case.

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u/Physical-Arrival-868 13d ago

Haha, well you mentioned you're American so I thought it's likely you went to an American school. I have a couple of friends from TAISM I went to TSS myself.