Getting Settled

Getting Settled includes a variety of hints and tips to explain the process of getting your paper work done and moving into your apartment along with all the basics that need to be done upon arrival.

If you contact DU ahead of time about your arrival, you will be met at the airport and brought to the campus or to your hotel. The first time you come to the campus, you should report to the Human Resources Section (Al Mawada Building No. 1, Room H 101), where you will welcomed in and will be informed of what is required of you during the first few days. The first step will be to find accommodation. The staff from the office of Information and Public Relations will take you and show you a selection of places to live, according to your preferences.

You can rent a car right away at Thrifty Cars Rental. This car rental agency gave Dhofar University a special rate of 150 OR a month to rent a car. For more details about this agency or any others, please contact:

Mr. Abdulrahman Aqeel Baomar at abdulrahman_baomar@du.edu.om

A few days after you arrive, you will be taken to a medical center for a required blood test. You will then give DU your passport and Human Resources Section will arrange for your residence card and work visa. This may take one or two weeks.

After you have your residence card, you can open a bank account and arrange to pay for a car if you choose to buy one instead of rent one.
                
Housing:
The Housing Unit in the IPR section of the DU will assist you in finding housing.  You can also contact Mr. Abdulrahman Aqeel Baomar at abdulrahman_baomar@du.edu.om for specific information.

Transportation:
There is no public transportation in Salalah. This is why most newcomers either rent or buy a car. (Cars can be sold easily when you leave)

Taxis:
Taxis must be flagged down on the street. You can usually find a taxi within minutes on any main road. Charges are set according to the distance of the ride, and are pretty standard. There are no meters, however, so you should agree on the cost with the taxi driver before you start out. Most speak enough English to be able to communicate the rate (which should be somewhere between half a rial and 3 rials.)

Shopping:
There are several large grocery stores such as the Lulu Hypermarket (near the airport), Al Isteqrar Supermarket and Al Mash hoor Supermarket (both with branches close to DU) and other smaller stores. There is one supermarket (‘Spinney’s’, near the air force base), which caters especially to European and North American tastes. Also there are a number of family shopping centers such as Center Point, Isteqrar Hypermarket, and the K.M.

Hotels and Entertainment:
There are two large hotels with health clubs and swimming pools where you can get a family membership for a reasonable price:
Crowne Plaza Hotel, which is a ten minute drive from the University, and is very popular with faculty and staff members, and the Hilton Resort, which is a half an hour drive up the coast.

Restaurants:  
Fast Food:
Pizza Hut Salalah:  23293030 (Home delivery), Pizza Hut Saada: 23225626 (Home delivery)
Kentucky Fried Chicken: 23294030 (Home delivery)
Chick Hut: 23288494 (Home delivery)
Abu Zakari: 23295330 (Home delivery)

Chinese Food:
Chopsticks: 23291400, 23297400 (Home delivery)

Turkish Food:
Darbat Restaurant. (Darbat Hotel)

Lebanese Food:
Ba’labak:  23298834 (Home delivery)
Ahla: 23290985 (Home delivery)

Omani Food:
Bin Ateeq Restaurant (near DU)

Hospitals and Clinics:

DU provides world wide health insurance for you. You will be advised to attend a local private hospital here in Salalah. Please ask Mr. Said Al Maashani from Human Resources Section about this when you arrive.

Telephones and Internet:

One can buy a cell phone and a number very easily from either of the two major telephone companies. Getting a telephone and internet hookup in a rented house or flat may take some time, however. If an internet connection is required at your home, you should check with the telephone company on the availability of internet lines in your neighborhood before you sign a rental agreement. There are usually lines available, but it is worth making sure first. It's worth mentioning that you should provide a letter of sponsorship from the university to the telephone company before you get a line. This letter will be provided by the Human Resources Section.

Newspapers and Books:
The “Family Bookstore,” a well known Middle Eastern chain sells  books in English as well as Arabic, postcards, newspapers (ex. Sunday Times, The Telegraph, International Herald Tribune and many other international newspapers ) and a large selection of magazines including Time, Newsweek, New Scientist, Good Housekeeping, etc.  They will also order books from outside the country. One can order books and music easily from amazon.co.uk or amazon.com and they usually arrive within a week or two, depending on the availability of the items you have ordered.

Opening a Bank Account:

Useful websites: