Well that is your mistake as an expat for taking rubbish from the landlords,in muscat its clear there is no diffrence between expat or a local.and like i said above you can go and complain according to law.
for example if you found a twin villa somewhere and one is occupied by a local and he is paying say 500,will the landlord charge you 700 or more because you are an expat.is that what you are saying.
if so you have been taken for a ride big time,and law doesnt allow that.
unless off course you are looking for a place like in shatti like you say that comes with a jacuzzi and expect to pay 200 R.O?1