I have used both cars. Both are good cars. When you will buy civic you need to spend more price for the spare parts than corolla.Driving civic is more comfortable than corolla engine power will be almost the same 1.8L, fuel consumption is also the same. Civic's engine is more noisy than corolla. When it comes to resale value Corolla will beat Civic in a better margin.
One more thing corolla's spare parts are widely availabe all over middle east.

So now it is your choice.