Once you have received confirmation that you are relocating to Oman, it can be difficult to choose which residential area you would prefer to live in – especially if your knowledge is still limited. Of course, your budget may affect your decision, and you may decide to live in an area that is a little further out of town and therefore a bit cheaper. You should also consider closeness to schools (if you have children) – the traffic situation in Muscat is currently bearable but you don’t want to get stuck in a jam every morning on your school run. Also important is the proximity of entertainment venues – if you’ve got an exhorbitant taxi fare to pay every time you go out anywhere it might deter even the most social of butterflies.

That said, every area of Muscat has its advantages and disadvantages, and with Muscat being a relatively small city you should be able to get to most places in under half an hour, no matter where you live. The following pages will give you some insight into the various residential areas, but remember that nothing beats getting in the car and exploring on your own.