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Hi Cheryl,

I will try to answer your questions so to help & support readers on the topic:

What was your first impression when you arrived?

Oman is a very welcoming country, with a clean environment and well-developed infrastructure. Omanis are very friendly, and the general environment is multi-cultural, as a huge expat population lives here.

Did you face any challenges while integrating? Any advice on how to overcome them?

Well, sometimes you may feel that language is a barrier, but to a limited extent, while dealing with government organizations.  If you are first time driving here you may also feel too much traffic and lots of traffic signals, especially in the capital city of Muscat.  The weather is quite hot during the summer season, starting from April till September. Housing is a bit expensive, especially in main urban areas. But these are relatively normal issues that anyone can face while settling in a new country. However, as people are friendly so one can easily resolve these issues.

Are there any support programs, groups, or events to help newcomers settle in?

Usually, your work staff and colleagues support you a lot in settling, and some online expat groups are active too.

Do you find it easy to make friends or connections with locals and fellow expats?

It's not that easy to make friends in Oman, until one can join his or her community groups.

What makes Oman a welcoming destination for expats?

The major factor is an expat-friendly environment and multi-cultural population demographics. Another key factor is peace and security.

Regards,

Asif