Moving house can be stressful, especially if you are moving to a new country. You can reduce the stress by planning the move well, and enlisting the help of a professional moving service. When moving your furniture to or from Oman, you can ship it by air or by sea. Airfreight is quick, and is good for small consignments and the essential things you can’t live without. But to move a whole houseful of furniture you need to arrange a container by sea, and this will take several weeks. You can get a 20 or 40 foot container, depending on how much stuff you are moving. If you’re really lucky and you know someone moving at the same time as you, you could share a container. Either way, ensure that you use a reputable company to pack your goods and make all the arrangements. If you are moving to Oman in the height of the summer (July or August), bear in mind that your belongings will travel at sustained high temperatures in the container ship, so some of your plastic items may warp and your china might have little surface cracks from the heat. A reputable moving company should be able to offer you advice on how to minimise damage by using proper packaging, therefore a company with a wide international network is usually the best option.


When your shipment arrives in Muscat you may be called to the customs department so that you can be present when your crates are opened. This is done to ensure that you are not bringing anything illegal or inappropriate into the country. Someone from your company (such as the PRO) may be able to stand in for you, and you will only have to go if something suspect is found. The process can be exhausting, because the search can take a few hours, often out in the heat, and you will have to watch your carefully packed boxes being unceremoniously rummaged through.


Smooth Moves


• Get more than one quote – some companies will match lower quotes to get the job


• Make sure that all items are covered by insurance


• Make sure that you have a copy of the inventory and that each item is listed


• Don’t be shy about requesting packers to repack items if you are not satisfied


• Take photos of the packing process, to use for evidence if you need to claim


• Carry customs-restricted goods (DVDs, videos or books) with you: it’s easier to open a suitcase in an air-conditioned airport than empty a box out in the sun


Relocation Experts


Relocation experts offer a range of services to help you settle into your new life in Oman as quickly as possible. Practical help ranges from finding accommodation or schools for your children to connecting a telephone or information on medical care. In addition, they will often offer advice on the way of life in the city, putting people in touch with social networks to help them get established in their new lives. Sununu Muscat (99 800 613; sununumuscat.com) is a relocation specialist that can help to ease your move to Oman in a number of ways.