Oman - a good land to make Hijrah to?

Assalaamu Alaykum,

been a long time since I did a country profile for Hijrah purposes but here are my thoughts on Oman, a country hardly anyone knows about much less considers for Hijrah.

please bare in mind these are my thoughts based on my research but you may have totally different views based on your research and experience so if you disagree with anything let me know because I don't want to misguide anyone.

1. How easy is it to practice the Deen and to what level, also how practicing are the people there?

From what I can tell more people seem to be practicing than many other countries, women cover usually, men as well and praying five times a day is the norm with the promotion of the five pillars by the ulema there.

Oman is unusual in that it is 55% Ibadiyah, then a large minority Ahlus Sunnah, then a smaller Shi'a minority.

Ibadi's are as far as I can tell Ahlul Qibla, i.e Muslims but not of the saved sect, but have some strange rationalist beliefs and are very strict on the five pillars, believing it is kufr to abandon them.

There have been no reports of disappearances, torture, mistreatement etc of those calling to the deen of Allah, unlike in most other arab lands so seems at first glance to be a better place for making Hijrah than many other places.


2. Autopsy allowed or not?

Autopsy is not the norm, usually only when the Royal Omani Police decide there is some suspicious circumstances in the death will an autopsy take place and even then a letter from the British Embassy will usually be respected to stop this from happening.


3. How easy is it to move to this land and how easy or difficult is it to get citizenship?

Need a tourist or work visa to travel there, with little or no chance of getting citizenship but you can remain if have savings or children are supporting you. So would need financial stability to remain in this country or have the kids married and working here to remain long term.


4. What are the employment prospects like for someone like me, an English speaker with no degree?

Like most simular arab nations, the international companies want English speakers which is the normal language for such places, as well as this good opportunities in teaching English.


5. What are the medical facilities like for residents and citizens?

From my own checking the system is private but subsidised for citizens and some residents, would need to check the status of this before moving there to find whether the Job I was doing fell under subsidised medical care or not.


6. What are the other benefits like for residents and citizens?

Good benefits but only for citizens.


7. What is the general culture like there?

Culture is quite steriotypically Arab but they've tried not to become too westernised and hang onto their islamic roots more. They also have a reputation of being hospitable to outsiders unlike some gulf countries.

The cost of living is also much lower and they haven't gone for the boom or broke economic model of many gulf countries, keeping things more moderate and tame.



8. What are the environmental conditions like?

Any sea level rises will cause moderate damage but not too severe and no widespread coastal damage. The country also has a great deal of arable land and a fishing industry and with little tourist industry makes it quite alot more attractive economically when the oil crash comes or this countries oil reserves run out.


9. How stable is the country?

Seems very stable for a muslim country, no border disputes or any disputes so wars very unlikely.


Conclusion

In conclusion it looks very good, stable, not prone to the widespread damage we are likely to see elsewhere with global warming, sea level rises etc.

Seems a better option than many places due to the character of the people and country but issues of not being able to settle perminently unless the kids are there working also.

Assalaamu Alaykum,
Abu Abdillah