I have been here for 7 years. Conditions are changable. From soup to beautiful clear water. You never can tell what it will be til you get out there. If you leave from the Fahaheel Sea Club, Arifjan Reef is 20 mins, Kubbar Island (where I found the whale shark) is 50 mins, Garu Island (always a good dive) is 1 1/2 hours. From Khiran Resort Marina, Um Al Miradim is 20 mins, and Donkey reef is less. Both are down south and good water.
Have a look at my pictures. They are from the local waters here. No, it is not the carribean. No, it is not the Red Sea. You have to have or develope real skills to dive here and it can be a challenge for those who are vacation divers and used to only super clear still waters.
ADI, did you live here or visit? I see you are from Dubai.
To the OP, if you are interested, please pm me, as I own a dive shop shop and am an SDI/TDI instructor here. I will be glad to help in any way I can. Then you can make up your own mind.