Muscat: The Muscat Governorate is in the midst of implementing a series of significant development projects aimed at enhancing its economic and tourism sectors, with a focus on achieving comprehensive and sustainable growth.
Among these notable projects is the Sultan Haitham City, which stands as the premier initiative in Muscat. It is recognized as the first integrated and smart city within the Sultanate of Oman, spanning an impressive area of 14 million square meters.
The Governorate of Muscat is committed to broadening investment opportunities, increasing the number of sites available for investment, boosting the utilization of tourist attractions, developing entertainment venues, and expanding green spaces. Furthermore, it plans to introduce new projects, promote decentralization in the provision of government services, and emphasize digital transformation and the adoption of modern technologies.
Governor Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi has emphasized the Governorate's dedication to empowering the youth and fostering their active participation in development efforts, in line with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s vision of placing youth at the forefront of development.
To facilitate this, the Governorate organizes the annual "Muscat Dialogue Sessions" to discuss development topics of interest, providing a platform for the youth to voice their opinions and present their innovative ideas.
Additionally, the Governorate supports youth initiatives through collaborations with both the public and private sectors, with a focus on skill development and entrepreneurship. An example of such an initiative is a health and sports project designed to empower the community through sports activities and create new employment opportunities.
Governor Sayyid Saud has also highlighted the municipal sector's efforts, including the launch of the “Oman Planning Hackathon” to foster innovative solutions in sustainable urban planning and a competition to enhance the Wadi Darsait (valley) area in partnership with a student group.
Moreover, the Governorate's local administrations organize various youth events, such as the “Sports and Beach Games Forum” in the Wilayat of Bausher, which features sports activities and training courses. Looking ahead, the Governorate aims to establish an electronic platform on its official website to enable youth to share their ideas and aspirations.
He further mentioned the Governorate's intention to improve coordination with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to ensure that development projects align with the Greater Muscat Master Plan, a key component of the National Urban Development Strategy in line with Oman Vision 2040. This strategy seeks to achieve a harmonious balance between economic growth and quality of life by integrating land uses, public transportation, and sustainable green spaces.
Governor Sayyid Saud concluded by stating that the Governorate is in the process of implementing projects aimed at developing residential neighborhoods, such as the Muttrah Development Project and the Sultan Qaboos Port Waterfront, which are crucial in creating an integrated and sustainable urban environment that caters to the needs of both the present and future generations.
He highlighted that the governorate is committed to executing qualitative projects that align with its strategic objectives. This commitment is evident in the completion of the general plan and detailed maps for the Bimmah Sinkhole Development Project within the Wilayat of Quriyat. A tender has been issued to proceed with the construction of the project, covering an area of 498,758 square meters. The project encompasses the creation of recreational spaces for hiking and camping, the provision of essential services, and the enhancement of green spaces.
Furthermore, he mentioned that a tender has been issued for the execution of the detailed plan for the development project of the Bausher Sands area in the Wilayat of Bausher. He elaborated that the project will be implemented in phases, spanning an area of 362,000 square meters. This development will feature designated areas for four-wheel drive vehicles, a specialized building for bike rentals and maintenance, entertainment and family zones, and multi-level parking facilities.
Regarding the Ain Ghala development project, he stated that the consultation services for the detailed plan are in progress, with the completion of consultation services and the preparation of basic plans for the Al-Qurm area development project (beach and reserve), as well as the creation of detailed maps for the sea road.
Concerning the Quriyat Waterfront Development Project, he noted that the initial design phase has been successfully completed, with plans that include a walkway, bicycle paths, visitor facilities, green areas, and a space allocated for restaurants, cafes, and shaded seating areas.
He concluded by mentioning that the governorate has also undertaken the assignment of consultation services for the master plan of the development of the Qurum Commercial District, which was completed in September.
Consultation services have been allocated for the development of the Al-Mahj Commercial District within the Wilayat of Al Amirat. Additionally, a tender has been issued to execute the Ruwi Commercial District Development Project, designed to support economic and commercial activities.
He further highlighted several significant projects within the Muscat Governorate, including Sultan Haitham City, Sustainable City Yiti, Al Khuwair Downtown, and Tilal Al Irfan.
In the municipal sector, the Governor of Muscat elucidated that this year, numerous service projects across various sectors will be initiated, with a primary focus on the development of the road network in the Muscat Governorate. Notably, the tender for the expansion of Muscat Expressway, which will include six lanes in each direction, improvements to bridges, and intersections, is among the major projects.
He also mentioned that the projects encompass the conversion of the service road in Al Khuwair into a one-way road to enhance traffic flow and the Al Ansab-Al Jifnain dual carriageway project, spanning up to 15 km, which includes the construction of a road with three lanes in each direction, bridges, and intersections, among other road projects.
He also discussed the municipal sector's ongoing projects, such as the Muttrah Square Project, which has received the Bilarab bin Haitham Award for Architectural Design.
Furthermore, Sayyid Saud addressed the digital transformation and smart infrastructure projects in Muscat Governorate, including the implementation of a smart signal operating system, which incorporates 50 sensors and 52 cameras at traffic light intersections, and the unified municipal system project aimed at digitizing 93 services and 14 smart initiatives in its initial phase to enhance the efficiency of services provided to citizens.
He emphasized the municipal sector's commitment to increasing green spaces within Muscat Governorate by constructing more parks and gardens. He noted that Muscat Governorate is home to 144 parks and gardens distributed across 11 public parks, 126 parks in residential neighborhoods, and 7 gardens.
In the realm of environmental conservation, he stated that Muscat Governorate is dedicated to enhancing sustainability as a priority, in collaboration with the Environment Authority and other governmental and private entities, to achieve the Sultanate of Oman's goal of reaching zero neutrality by 2050.
Within this framework, the Governorate launched the “Green Muscat” initiative to augment vegetation cover, in alignment with the national initiative to plant 10 million trees, which will contribute to improving air quality and public health.
The Governorate also plays a role in the national campaign to combat invasive bird species.
The Governorate of Muscat has also entered into an agreement to initiate a series of environmental projects and initiatives, including the establishment of five parks within residential areas, a collaboration with Jindal Company on the "Al-Khuwair Square" project, the creation of parking lots equipped with solar panels, and a partnership with the German University to design a sustainable garden aimed at carbon capture.
Regarding the tourism sector, Sayyid Saud highlighted the Governorate's recognition of tourism as a cornerstone of the economy and its continuous efforts to enhance its contribution to integrated services supporting this essential sector.
He emphasized the Governorate's commitment to collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in developing tourist infrastructure at sites, including the provision of roads, lighting, health facilities, and necessary amenities to improve visitor experiences and meet their expectations.
Furthermore, the Governorate coordinates with the Ministry to execute various tourism projects, including the development of sites under its supervision and the support of Ministry-led projects in Muscat Governorate, such as the Omani Botanic Garden expansion project, the waterfront development at Sultan Qaboos Port, and the Muttrah Tourist Path project, which is currently in progress.
In the realm of social work, He mentioned the Governorate's efforts in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and local wali offices to carry out significant tasks through Social Development Committees.
He outlined the Governorate's leading social development initiatives, including the establishment of a water therapy unit at the Al Wafa Centre for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in Al Amerat and the design and engineering consultancy services for the construction of a juvenile detention facility.
In the realm of health, Sayyid Saud affirmed the commencement of several critical initiatives throughout 2023 and 2024 within the Muscat Governorate. These endeavors are aimed at ensuring the provision of comprehensive health services that cater to societal needs. Notably, the establishment of the Menagen Pharmaceutical Industries Factory within the Rusayl Industrial Area and the inauguration of an Omani start-up specializing in the manufacturing of transparent dental aligners, staffed by skilled Omani personnel, stand out as significant achievements. Furthermore, the expansion of numerous health centers and the inauguration of new polyclinics have been part of these efforts.
Regarding the education sector within the Muscat Governorate, Sayyid Saud highlighted the notable increase in the number of schools within the region.
In his concluding remarks, Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi underscored the commitment to enhancing the fisheries sector and providing support to fishermen across various wilayats within the governorate.
