Oman, My Dear: Living and Working in the Jewel of Arabia

by Nick Smith

Arriving in Muscat, Nick was befriended by a charming Omani taxi driver, who guided him and his family through eight exciting and eventful years living and working in the Middle East. This story is an insight into life in this fascinating and mystic part of world, from a family viewpoint, through the Arab Spring and into early 2020.

Oman, My Dear is the companion book to Nick's wife's book, Paw Prints in Oman, a New York Times bestseller which describes Charlotte Smith's time in Oman assisting vets and rehoming hundreds of strays.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2020

Reviews

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely interesting read.

Oman is a country I knew little about, so I found this to be a very informative and interesting memoir. ( I do admit to pausing occasionally to do a search on Google). I have read and enjoyed Charlotte's memoir, which gives a different perspective of this incredible country.
Nick left the U.K. in the early 2000's to head a major property development in Muscat, and stayed on in Oman for 8 years working in various positions.
His descriptions of Muscat, the surrounding areas and countries, the culture, the religious beliefs, and the people, are so vivid.
I enjoyed this memoir immensely, and I can't recommend highly enough.
Thank you "My Dear", I liked you very much.

[E.J. Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are flooded with reports, articles, opinion pieces and even endless fiction and films on life in the Middle East. Much of it can be negative, so it was a pleasant surprise to read of the author's experiences in Oman; to learn about the country's history, the ruling Royal Family, the political structure, business practices, customs, religious observances and celebrations. I now know the rules for buying red wine, how often cars must be washed, the value of a personal taxi driver, what's involved in obtaining a work permit and the intricacies of musical fruit juice. Well written with a touch of wry humour, I was left feeling just a little sad that the invitation to take halwa with the Sultan was never forthcoming.

[LL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and informative

One glaring omission to a American is no mention of 9/11 and the trade towers bombing. I would have liked to know the impact on the region during that year. This book also mentioned a son one time and not again. Except for a few mentions of children and wife the family aspect is lacking. Otherwise it was well written and informative on the business end though tedious if you're not into business . The author has good tales to tell about the country and people and the poor that serve in that country. The religious and political influence is interesting to read about and the history of the area. My dear and the interaction between the author and him is enjoyable.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting book! Really enjoyed this account of working in Oman and all the cultural differences that Nick Smith encountered. He was fortunate to have an "ever helpful " Omani taxi driver to lead and explain the finer parts of living in Oman.

A very enjoyable fun read written by an English Expat living a Middle Eastern lifestyle.

I have yet to read the companion book written by his wife but will do so as I am curious to read a female viewpoint of Oman.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a fascinating and informative memoir about living and working in Oman. I enjoyed the historical details about this unique country and discovering the Omani customs. I liked his frankness and non judgemental attitude, accepting the way things were done and learning to deal with them courteously. Occasionally, it was a steep learning curve! At times the job he had taken on in Muscat was high powered and stressful but what a challenge! Nick has a wry sense of humour and there were times I had a real chuckle at some of his anecdotes. He and his family embraced all that the country offered and at times all that the expat life offered! Dressing up, singing, all great fun and for a good cause which made 'My Dear' raise his eyebrows just a little. I became rather fond of 'My Dear' Nick's clever and helpful taxi driver and very much enjoyed hearing his views on topical events. This book gives an insight into a part of the world that is so often viewed with distrust, particularly by westerners. However I have discovered that it's actually one of the safest countries in the world and is now an increasingly popular tourist destination. A real eye opener for me and highly recommended.

[Jackie Skingley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my 5 ***** review for Nick Smith’s 'Oman My Dear.'
I enjoyed this book on so many levels. Oman is a magical place. Nick has captured the spirit of the country and its people. The jewel of Arabia, Oman, has a fascinating history and the myth of Sinbad the Sailor is believed to have come from Sur, the port city on the country’s eastern tip
Oman has much to offer: mountains, deserts, a long coast line, seas teeming with dolphins, turtles, coral reefs and fish. No wonder the Sultanate has become a desirable holiday destination. Tourism became more important to the economy after Oman's leaders discussed the importance of diversification. The 1990s saw a boom in luxury hotels, marinas and diving schools. And it is this aspect that brings Nick to Oman in 2006, to head up a project for an exclusive residential development near Seeb international airport.
Nick’s account of living and working there brought back many happy memories. I particularly enjoyed the the advice he was given by his personal taxi driver, reflecting an Omani’s point of view. Wonderful anecdotes and visual descriptions. I could smell the frankincense from here!

[Judy Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever wondered what a real live CEO was like? I have. Not to lump them all in one category, but this one is a larger-than-life, multi-talented man who is comfortable enough in his own skin to showcase his less than talented areas (think Elvis interpretation) for charity. Fun-loving and adventurous, Nick explores Oman with the help of his indispensable friend and driver while he describes the beauty of the land and its people, the Arab Spring and all the hilarious mishaps and mayhem that occur in a brand new land, assuming you don’t take yourself too seriously. And just to keep you from being too disappointed when you reach the last page, his wife has a bestseller written from her perspective, including a busy job in a vets office re-homing dogs and cats and all the culture shock that awaits one settling in an exotic new land.

[Valerie Poore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift some time ago and have only just had time to read it. The blurb says it is a companion to the author's wife's book, Pawprints in Oman, which I read a few years ago. I wish I'd been able to read the two consecutively as I think Nick Smith's book relied on readers knowing something of the other side of the family's story and, sadly, I've forgotten too much to fill in the gaps in the narrative. That aside, this book was an amusing and perceptive account of the life of an expat businessman in Oman, with plenty of examples of the cultural differences that make life both interesting and bewildering at times. I enjoyed the author's observations, as well as the advice and insights provided by the inimitable My Dear. An enjoyable read overall.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fascinated by Nick's experiences in Oman. Having read his wife Charlotte's book Paw Prints in Oman, and thoroughly enjoying it, this really rounded out the story. Getting to grips with the Arabic way of working can be a challenge for a Westerner, but Nick seemed to find his way around pretty well, aided in part by his favorite taxi driver, the eponymous My Dear of the title. I loved the exchanges between the two of them, and the insights of My Dear. A wonderfully well written book, with insights into a culture few of us are familiar with, I thoroughly recommend that you read this.

[Jill Robbertze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Nick Smith's candid account of living and working in Oman. I have read about some of the other Middle Eastern countries but I confess I knew nothing of Oman before reading this and so found it really interesting. Nick writes with a wonderful sense of humour and I particularly enjoyed his enlightening conversations with "My Dear".

[Margie Jeursen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this read of the experiences of Nick Smith, his wife and daughter living in Oman for 8 years as expats. Such an interesting positive insight to a country I knew nothing about and the endearing relationship between taxi driver and author, named My Dear by the author. I loved everything and didn’t want the book to end!

[Victoria Marie Lees · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oman, My Dear: Living and Working in the Jewel of Arabia by Nick Smith recounts Smith’s time living in Oman while he was in charge of the development of a village called The Wave in Muscat. Thank goodness Smith had the driver “My Dear” to get him places and explain customs and culture, religion and ethics. The work week was different. Driving in the city was crazy. I don’t think I could handle the heat, which could get as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit, 95 degrees at night. Although I’d love to see the stars and the sunrises Smith saw.

Smith was in charge of a massive and multinational workforce for The Wave. Handling such a large multicultural crew of workers, trying to move the construction project to fruition, and surviving a banking crisis added much tension in Smith’s life. He worked in a few Middle Eastern places where someone was needed to lead a new development in the area, again with a wide-ranging multicultural crew. Smith took on many positions and had assistants who helped him with the culture of the area. He lived through the unrest in the Middle East.

Smith is a hardworking individual who seemed to enjoy the expat life. All throughout his stay in Oman, My Dear was so much more than a driver for Smith. Only My Dear helped “Little Fish” [Smith] with understanding the cultural differences in Oman. Smith was a lucky man to have him.