Muscat, capital of the ancient Sultanate of Oman, backs onto the ancient Al Hajar Mountains. The city’s backdrop of crumbling mountains and lush wadis (oases) spills into wild coastlines and arresting architecture to create a Middle Eastern idyll. Oman has a fantastic health service and Muscat, which houses the majority of Oman’s population, boasts a decent selection of international schools. The country owes its fairly high standard of living to its dwindling oil reserves and other mineral deposits. Moving here will require a few lifestyle changes, such as dropping bacon from the breakfast menu. A cradle of Islam, Omanis have largely (75%) adopted Ibadism, a denomination of Islam in Oman, and most of its citizens are Muslims. You can find western items in specialty shops and supermarkets, but be prepared to queue. The country’s many souks (markets) provide an alternative, more colorful shopping experience, where you can find fresh fruit and vegetables, along with a glittering array of other essential and non-essential items. Among the more stable Persian Gulf countries, notably during the recent Arab Spring, Oman’s political stability, low crime rate, unspoiled landscapes and genuinely warm people make moving to exotic Muscat a comfortable leap of faith.