Muscat: In its session today, part of the second regular meeting of its tenth term, the Shura Council welcomed Dr. Khalfan Said Al Shuaili, the Minister of Housing and Urban Planning.
The discussions centered on the National Spatial Development Strategy, the regulatory frameworks for urban planning and housing, collaboration with relevant organizations, digital transformation, procedural efficiency, and the future challenges and opportunities related to sustainable cities and integrated residential communities.
During the meeting, the Minister highlighted that the ministry is executing policies that are in line with the National Spatial Development Strategy and the five-year plans stemming from the "Oman 2040" vision.
He pointed out that urban planning is a crucial instrument for the strategy, aimed at maximizing resource efficiency through contemporary mechanisms that support national projects. These initiatives include five future cities: Sultan Haitham City, A’Thuraya City, Sohar Future City, Salalah Future City, and Nizwa Future City, covering a combined area of 39 million square meters.
Furthermore, there are currently 22 integrated residential neighborhood projects in progress, with expectations to increase this number to 30 by the end of the year.
The Minister remarked that the National Spatial Development Strategy has fostered significant collaboration among stakeholders, with frameworks for major projects approved in various governorates, some of which are already in advanced stages. He confirmed that the Ministry aims to harmonize urban development with environmental conservation while encouraging investment to diversify the economy. This is facilitated through effective public-private partnerships and adaptable policies, with 90 real estate developers registered and 20 licenses issued between 2022 and 2024.
He elaborated that these collaborations have increased the investment value to RO 500 million for integrated residential projects and strengthened engineering consultancy firms. The Ministry is also refining processes and promoting developmental partnerships to create innovative, efficient solutions that facilitate digital transformation and utilize modern technologies to enhance service quality and speed, as affirmed by the Minister.
He noted that the Ministry is executing comprehensive plans to optimize land utilization in response to the demands of demographic and economic growth. A total of 49,018 land plots have been designated for various purposes, utilizing innovative approaches to improve service efficiency and reduce requests for converting agricultural land into residential areas—a practice that had previously resulted in housing units being established in non-compliant locations.
The Minister confirmed that the distribution of residential land is conducted through an electronic system that ensures transparency and simplifies procedures, with 69,963 land plots and housing units allocated between 2021 and 2024 under housing initiatives such as "Choose Your Land," "Own Your Land," "Plan Your Land," and integrated residential projects.
He emphasized the Ministry’s dedication to social stability by providing a range of housing options that align with citizens’ aspirations and promote family welfare. From 2021 to 2024, 4,923 families benefited from the social housing program, while 216 units in integrated residential projects were set aside for housing assistance. Furthermore, 1,000 units in Sultan Haitham City were allocated, with total housing assistance reaching RO 208 million over the past four years.
He disclosed that real estate transactions—including sales, mortgages, and exchanges—amounted to 375,132 from 2021 to 2024, surpassing RO 10 billion.
In terms of land investment, a total of 2,189 plots designated for commercial, mixed-use, industrial, and agricultural purposes were made available from 2022 to 2025 to enhance economic activity and draw investments throughout Oman’s governorates, the Minister stated.
He also reported a notable rise in land development permits, increasing from 20,000 in 2022 to 30,000 in 2023. However, he pointed out that more than 18,000 residential plots were obstructing wadi courses, with 10,000 permits compensated and around 1,750 existing structures located in these areas.
In a significant update, the Minister announced Royal directives to reserve 10% of housing units and land within the "Sarouh" projects for recipients of marriage funds, along with further price reductions.
Additionally, the Ministry is creating an investment portfolio aimed at supporting social housing initiatives and optimizing resources. There are ongoing efforts to promote major real estate development projects, providing high-quality investment opportunities to attract both local and international companies, with the goal of delivering contemporary urban projects that address future demands.
