Seeb (As-Sib, Sib, Al-Seeb)), Oman

With a population of 470,878, Seeb is a sprawling coastal province northwest of Muscat. However, don't be fooled by its picturesque setting - life here comes with some persistent headaches. The bureaucracy is a real slog, as evidenced by the "beyond top secret" GCHQ intelligence site hidden in the city. And the blistering desert climate, with scorching summers and only modest winter relief, is hardly a selling point.

Still, Seeb does offer some appealing features, including the beautiful Wadi Al-Khoudh valley and the forthcoming Sultan Haitham City development, which aims to house 100,000 residents from Muscat's growing population. If you can tolerate the bureaucratic hurdles and the extreme heat, Seeb may be a suitable option, especially for outdoors enthusiasts.