Basic Living Needs

Oman Outpatient Exploring the Health Care

After all these desert, mountain and sea adventures, boozy nights and long days out in the sun, if you do come a cropper you are safe and secure in the knowledge that the general standard of healthcare in Oman is high, both in public and private sectors.

Your employer should provide you with some level of health insurance. Check the coverage and identify those areas that are not covered. You may want to supplement the cover with your own policy.

Expatriates must register with a private hospital or clinic, like the Muscat Private Hospital (24 583 600) or the Al Shatti Hospital (24 604 263). They are clean and well staffed by English-speaking professionals. If you have a medical emergency you can turn up at the emergency department of the Al Shatti Hospital and a doctor will see you.

Do not rely on an ambulance; ask a friend, colleague or taxi. The ambulance service is in its infancy in Oman and despite flashing lights and sirens, drivers tend not to move out of the way quickly. If you have a real emergency then call 999 and the Royal Omani police will arrange immediate transportation.

Pharmacies are open from 9am to 9pm Saturdays to Thursdays, there will always be one open somewhere 24 hours a day. They can sell drugs that are usually prescription only in western countries, like antibiotics and steroids. It is better to receive medical advice rather than attempting a self or pharmacist diagnosis.

With cars and petrol both being considerably cheaper in this region than in other parts of the world, you can afford that luxury 4WD or American sports car that you have always wanted. Driving behaviour is quite aggressive and erratic. You can expect lots of overtaking on the inside, dramatic lane switching maneouvres, sudden stops and speeding.

It is strongly advised that you consult our 'Teachanywhere special features: transport in Dubai'; much of the advice can be taken on board for other Middle East cities. However, traffic is not a huge problem, even in Muscat. You will find traffic back-ups at certain hotspots during rush hour, but even these little traffic jams are nowhere near as bad as the gridlock you would face in other countries.

You must be a resident to apply for a driving licence. Residents from many countries, including the UK and US, can simply exchange their national licence for an Oman one at Death Valley Road traffic police headquarters. To do this, you will have to an eye test and pay the fee of RO20. The PRO of the school will help you with the process. Always carry your licence with you when you drive.

Leasing a vehicle has many advantages over buying. Not only is it a good option for shorter or uncertain periods, but the leasing company will deal with breakdowns, accidents, insurance and registration. Cars can be leased on a weekly, monthly or annual basis and you can choose from a range of models from saloon cars to 4WD. Prices vary according to the model and the length of lease, but a one-year lease on a basic saloon car will cost about RO200 per month. For short-term rental, many of the local and international companies offer daily rates. To hire any vehicle, you will need to provide a passport copy and driving licence.

To own a car in Oman you must have a resident card. If you decide to buy a car, you will find that it is considerably cheaper to buy, maintain and run a car in Oman compared with most other countries. You will need your passport and residency and copies of them. The vehicle purchase form should be signed by your employer then taken to the insurance company. Once the car is registered you will receive a vehicle registration card. Many car dealerships are located between the Al Wattayah and Wadi Adai Roundabouts. Unless you are paying cash for the car, you will need to get a bank loan or leave a
post-dated cheque for every month of the finance period.

In the event of a breakdown you will usually find that a passing police car will stop to help. Always make sure you carry water with you and if you can, try to put the car in a safe place.