I was born in Muscat and always made frequent trips to Dubai so here's
what I know.
Muscat:
PROS:
1. Like Ft. Lauderdale in florida, retirement City
2. Quiet and Simple
3. Traffic is much less than Dubai
4. Slow paced and relaxed life
5. Cheaper in everyway to Dubai
6. Better Wadi bashing
7. This piggy-backs on point 5 but Cars are way cheaper and better deals.
CONS:
1. Shopping is Dead
2. Activities are a minimal
3. No Freehold (besides The Wave and Blue City which will take a billion years to build since its so slow there. They've already held lotteries and people are buying but there's not even a BullDozer on the damn Wave yet commencing the project)
4. Things are so slow its a miracle if you can get a bank account opened in one day or your car registered in a day.
Dubai:
PROS
1. Shopping is Abundant
2. Variety in everything
3. Freehold properties are coming up like crazy
4. Too many activities to keep you busy
5. You can get thhings done faster in Dubai than in Muscat such as registering a vehicle, opening a bank account
CONS
1. Cost of living is high and everything is way over priced.
2. Nosiy and Complicated
3. Construction everywhere screws up traffic
4. Bad city planning when it comes to easing congestion on roads
5. Wadi bashing places not so much
6. Traffic is insane
7. Buying a car is more expensive and the deals suck.