Oman - An Open Road To Dubai
With a declared war underway between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad factions in the Holy Land, as well as growing tensions with Hezbollah along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, the global media and political agenda has again turned to the Middle East. But in a region which has suffered so much turmoil in recent decades due to the intervention of outside powers, there remain safe havens for economic migration and capital investment. Dubai, which until a few generations ago was a small fishing village near a pearl and gold-trading port on the Persian Gulf, has emerged as a global city, perhaps THE global city par excellence.
Even as the Swiss in recent years have done much to undermine their reputation for neutrality and banking secrecy, the Emirates have emerged as the new Swiss cantons of the Eastern Hemisphere--an epicenter of global East-West-North-South trade and banking, where men and women from over 200 countries and sovereign territories are welcomed--along with their money.
While Dubai undeniably is a city that never sleeps with a highly entrepreneurial and luxury social media-loving 'vibe', people migrating from the rest of the Arab world as well as the Indian Subcontinent may seek more tranquil suburban-style living within commuting distance of the burgeoning Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Sharjah 21st century metropolis. This is why we have asked our Middle East North Africa (MENA) Editor Ahmed to write an introductory article about commuting to Dubai along the highway from the UAE's close neighbor, the Sultanate of Oman.
-- James Smith, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
October 13, 2023
The importance of the countries near the Arabian Gulf has increased exponentially since the oil boom of the 20th century. Today Dubai is not only a major hub of oil and gas production, but also a hub for global tourism, technology, venture capital and private equity firms. Cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the Emirates and Doha in Qatar have achieved tremendous international recognition. For the Arab world the development of these commercial centers is miraculous, considering that just 60 years ago, there was little around these port towns but barren desert and the legacy of the Persian Gulf's depressed pearl industry. Not only oil and gas, but also the exponential growth of duty-free commerce, tourism and luxury real estate under the wise leadership of Dubai's founding fathers the Nahyan family has rocketed Dubai to its present leading global city status.
With far less oil and gas found within their borders, the UAE's neighbors and ruling family relatives in Oman have yet to claim their share of the enormous sovereign wealth that was accumulated by the Gulf Arabs during the oil and subsequent real estate booms. But as the housing markets mature in the three largest urban centers of the UAE--Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and their less famous sister emirate up the coast of Sharjah, driving exurban growth outward along the coastal highway to the Emirates borders--this trend is likely to shift over the coming decades.
With the emerging Maritime Silk Roads driving ocean container traffic to India and Pakistan across the Arabian Sea, Oman is ideally situated to benefit. Hence this article will be most likely circulate among those seeking economic opportunity from other Arab countries as well as South Asian Muslim entrepreneurs.
NASA satellite photo of the Strait of Hormuz connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. This is a chokepoint for much of the world's oil and LNG tanker traffic.
A Brief History of Modern Oman
Since the 1970s, Oman has embarked on a true path of modernization and progressive economic reforms. There has been increased spending on social welfare and other sectors like education and health, a mix of a parliamentary system under the Sultanate was also established. More political rights were given to the Omani subjects under the leadership of Sultan Qaboos, who ruled for over 40 years, transforming the country. After the succession of Sultan Qaboos first cousin, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in 2020, the monarchy has shown no intent to deviate from the path its predecessor laid out.
Our Objectives in Writing this Introduction to Oman
In this article, we are going to make an introduction to four topics:
1) How to obtain a residency permit in Oman
2) How to commute from Oman to Dubai
3) How the housing situation would look like in Oman in the Omani-Emirati border towns in the future, and most importantly...
4) How Oman will play a role in the future development of the UAE and the region
How to Obtain a Residency Permit in Oman
First of all, it is important that you must have a sponsor of sorts in Oman, it can be through an employer or a relative. If you are an employee, you would usually need a labor permit from the Ministry of Manpower. The requirements differ based on your nationality and are constantly changing. So it is crucial that you ask your local embassy if you are serious about moving to Oman. If you have family members, you can also arrange a residency visa for them, and anyone under the age of 21 is also eligible to be sponsored. If you don't already have a prospective employer lined up or a relative living in Oman, then we recommend that you get started by visiting OmanPortal.gov.om.
Before getting an Omani visa, it is important to clear some security concerns. This is where your No-Objection Certificate comes into place. This is an official document that states that the government of Oman and your sponsor do not have, as the name states, any objection towards entering Oman. After this critical form is obtained, there are two types of residency visas, one for employment, where you are sponsored by your employer, and one for residence, wherein you are sponsored by a family member.
Verifying your documents for migration to Oman
Upon arrival to the country if you are sponsored by an employer or a family member you will be taken to an ROP (Royal Omani Police) station by the Public Relations Officer of your sponsor, or your family member will get the paperwork sorted, and you will be fingerprinted. After your residency visa is granted, you will apply for labor clearance, for this process it is necessary to supply all the essential paperwork that you may be asked for (birth certificates, diplomas/transcripts as proof of university or medical/dental school education, etc).
It is also important that these documents are verified and attested by a solicitor or a public official in your country of origin, then by your foreign office to verify the solicitor or public official in question and make sure all the paperwork is in order. Only then will the Omani embassy in your country sign off on the paperwork. You must also have a health certificate from your country of origin that states you are not HIV-positive and free from any other major communicable diseases.
After being sponsored by your employer or family member in Oman (if you have a family) you can arrange for them to be sponsored, from there there are 2 types of family visas, the "family joining" visa is for your spouse and children under the age of 21, and the family residence visa is for any relatives who do not fall under the category of spouses or children, such as aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters. It is important to note that your relatives are not legally eligible to work in Oman if they enter on these type of family reunification visas, and all of these visas are renewable.
The E-government portal in Oman and Royal Oman Police website
The General Directorate of Passports and Residency has launched an electronic form for visas and residency permits, as Oman is trying to work itself into a form of e-government, two new visa applications/residence renewal services are currently available.
There are four steps to follow in this process, the first being that you have to fill out the online form through the Royal Oman Police website, the second is completing the payment process, the third is sending the request through the website after confirming that all the paperwork and information is in order, then printing out the form. After all these steps, you are to submit the printed form to the nearest passport and residency department.
If it weren't for his legal problems former US President Donald Trump could easily apply for residency by investment in Oman, as the Trump Organization's Muscat resort co-developed with the Saudi firm Dar Al Arkan appears to meet the property value criteria (unless some New York judge says otherwise). Screenshot from the Trump Organization website.
If you happen to be affluent to wealthy, foreign investors and retirees can invest to obtain long-term residency rights in Oman. You must provide proof of ownership of shares of a market (NOT Par-Value) worth at least $1.3 million, own a company that employs 50 Omani subjects, or own government bonds valued at $1.3 million. Anyone who fulfills these conditions can get a 10-year residency permit, the second category will only get 5 years, but instead of $1.3 million, your property must be at least valued at $650K.
The expenses in Oman are reasonable, a week in Oman is estimated to cost you around $1,130. However, in our personal opinion it can reach as low as $800 if you are careful with your expenses.
Commuting to Dubai from Oman
Muscat is the main hub of transportation to anywhere in Oman.
There are many airports in the country, including Muscat International Airport and Salalah International Airport. The state also owns Oman Air and numerous international airlines are authorized to enter and operate on the territory of Oman, there are domestic flights inside the country.
There are ferries, crewed sail boats, and other passenger ships that also operate on the Gulf of Oman. The National Ferry company operates daily cruises between the coastal cities of Oman, and to the coasts and ports of nearby Arab and Asian countries.
Road transportation, though, is the most used method of travel, there are state-managed companies and local and international companies in the private sector.
For the purposes of this post, I am only going to discuss in detail the commute path between Dubai and Oman.
Bus service from Dubai to Oman
The road trip between Dubai and Muscat takes around 6 to 8 hours, and flights between the two countries occur mainly within these 3 stations, the dates and ticket prices will be listed, it is important to note that busses depart from Dubai to Oman, and vice versa, 3 times a day, I will first cite the stations in Dubai,
and then the stations in Oman.
In Abu Hail Station, the buses depart at 7 am, 3:03 and 11 pm.
In Dubai International Airport Terminal, the buses depart at 7:46 am, 3:45 and 11:15 pm
In Rashidiya Station, the buses depart at 8 am, 4 pm, and 11:30 pm.
Ticket Prices are 90/55 AED, there are two different categories.
Bus departure times from Abu Hail station: 07:00 am, 03:30 pm, 11:00 pm.
Bus departure times from Dubai International Airport Terminal 2:00 and 7:45 am, 03:45 and 11: 15 pm.
Bus departure times from Rashidiya Station: 08:00 am, 04:00 pm, 11: 30 pm.
Once in Oman, the buses that departed from Dubai to Oman stop at 12 stations for the purpose of disembarking passengers and boarding new passengers who wish to travel to Dubai, these stations are Shinas, Barka, Muscat International Airport, Azaiba, Burj Al-Sahwa (Awakening Tower, in Muscat), Maʽabilah, Al Masnaa, Suwayq, Khaboura, Saham, Sohar, and Atheer (in Muscat)
However, if you are going from Oman to Dubai, you can take the bus to Dubai from the following Omani stations:
Barka
Shinas
Muscat Airport
Burj Al Sahwa
Athaiba
Maabela
Suwaiq
Musanah
Khabura
Sohar
Saham
The Ticket price will be $14.30 if it is one-way, and a return ticket would be $24, exact times will be listed at the Mwasalat ticket offices, on their websites, or you may call their phone number for details.
If you are a resident of Oman or the UAE, your passport would be enough for transit purposes. If you are a foreigner, having a residence permit is generally enough to enter Oman or UAE if you have said permit from either of the two or another Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Qatar. But you can also be sure and "better safe than sorry" and apply for an Emirati visa. But from what we know, a residency permit is enough to get across the border in 95% of the cases.
Populations and border crossings of UAE-Oman border towns
There are only 5 settlements that are note-worthy of being mentioned in this post, those are Al Madam (UAE), Mezyad (UAE), Al Jeer (UAE), Al Ain (UAE), and Wajajah (Oman), with the largest and most important one being Al-Ain, the other 20 villages/settlements there are mostly all inhabited by locals and are not receptive of foreigners or are tourist locations. Al-Ain is the largest city in the area boasting over 800,000 people and has the largest concentration of foreigners living within its city borders.
Wajajah is a port city and its population is made up of Omanis or foreigners who work at the port, Al Jeer is also a Port City and is a settlement on the crossroads between the UAE and Oman, while Al Madam is known for its archeological sites and being linked to one of the main roads going to the UAE, it has around 5,000 travelers passing through it daily, we do not suggest any foreigners taking this road for cross-border duties unless they have permits, as this road is only open to permit holders and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country citizens. While Mezyad has the 2nd largest concentration of foreigners, coming in at around 700,000 Emiratis, with probably a few tens of thousands of foreigners living there as well.
Real estate in Al-Ain and Mezyad
In Al-Ain, there are at least hundreds of apartments available for rent, with yearly rents going anywhere from 20K AED to 50K AED depending on the location. In the future, these rents are likely to go higher due to the importance of this city as a cross-roads between the UAE and Oman. The same situation also applies to Mezyad, there is no shortage of single family homes or mid rise condominium property available in these two cities for rent or purchase.
Tourism in Oman: A Jewel of the Maritime Silk Roads
Oman has many attractions that can be described as breathtaking, from the mountains of Jebel Shams to the vibrant deserts of Wahiba, the diverse range of landscapes and pristine turquoise waters and beaches along the Gulf of Oman are prime spots for tourists.
The history of Oman has had thousands of years of maritime trade with ancient Egyptian, Minoan, Phoenician/Carthaginian, Hittite and Greco-Roman/Byzantine empires, as well as the various dynasties of China, Persia and the Indian Subcontinent. There are grave sites, ancient ruins, and iconic locations such as the Nizwa Fort, the old district in Muscat, and modern architectural feats such as the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
There are also protected reservations like Al Hajar Mountains and the Oryx sanctuary, the traditional cuisine and local culture has much to give to non-Arab expats and tourists.