Home and Building Expo Highlights Future Cities in OmanMuscat, 6 Oct
(ONA) — The fifth edition of the “Home and Building Expo” focusing on Architecture
and Urban Planning launched at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre today
under the slogan “Sustainable Cities for People.”
The
inauguration ceremony featured the launch of Oman’s Building Requirements and
Specifications Guide and witnessed the signing of development agreements for
future city projects, the development of neighbourhoods under the Integrated
Residential Neighbourhoods initiative, and the announcement of a new investment
opportunity.
The
exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in
cooperation with Expo Muscat, was inaugurated under the patronage of Sheikh Al
Fadhl bin Mohammed Al Harthy, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers.
The event
serves as an exceptional platform bringing together elite experts, developers,
investors, and decision-makers from various sectors, with wide participation
from government and private institutions and international specialists in the
fields of urban development, urban planning, architectural design, and
sustainable construction.
The launch
coincides with the global celebration of Urban October, reflecting Oman’s
commitment to enhancing its role in developing sustainable cities that achieve
balanced urban development goals. It also contributes to promoting youth
engagement, familiarizing them with future urban projects, and encouraging them
to innovate solutions for planning challenges, thereby helping to shape the
future of cities with modern and sustainable methods.
The opening
ceremony saw the signing of seven partnership and development agreements for
future city projects, including Sultan Haitham City, Al Thuraya City in Muscat
Governorate, and Al Jabal Al A’ali in A’Dakhiliyah Governorate. These
agreements enhance Oman’s urban growth map, open new investment horizons, and
reflect a commitment to the “We Race With Time” principle in
accelerating the implementation of these cities according to the highest modern
standards, supporting quality of life in line with the economic and urban
transformations witnessed in Oman.
During the
event, the tender for implementing the sewage treatment plant in Sultan Haitham
City was awarded to Al Sarooj Trading and Contracting, with an investment value
exceeding RO 7 million, in collaboration with Nama Water Services. The tender
for constructing the main sewage line from A’Seeb to Sultan Haitham City was
awarded to ONEIC Company, with an investment value exceeding RO 8 million, also
in collaboration with Nama Water Services.
A series of
partnership and development agreements were also signed for Al Jabal Al A’ali
in Al Jabal Al Akhdar. These included an agreement to develop the health zone
in the Western Village, spanning an area of 600,000 square metres. It will
comprise up to 500 residential units and 120 hotel units, including a 5-star
healthcare and wellness hotel, alongside fine-dining restaurants, green spaces,
gardens, and public walkways, with an investment value exceeding RO 200 million,
to be developed by Mister Company.
An agreement
was also signed for Al Alalan Hills project and the establishment of a golf
course on a 2.26 million square metre area. It will include 2,100 residential
units, two 5-star hotels, an international-standard 18-hole golf course, an
event and festival square, and commercial facilities and international
restaurants, with an investment value exceeding RO 400 million, to be developed
by the UAE’s Kamcorp Investment.
In the
environmental and tourism sector, an agreement was signed to develop a luxury
eco-resort with an investment value of RO 3 million on an area exceeding
150,000 square metres. It will feature 15 luxury lodges designed in harmony
with the mountain landscape, positioning it as a premier eco-tourism destination
within the “Al Jabal Al A’ali” project, to be developed by Al Saraya
Development Company.
An agreement
was also signed to develop an eco-camp featuring 60 eco-lodges and various
service facilities on a 12,000 square metre area with an investment value of RO
3 million, to be developed by Desert Palm Tourism Projects Company (Oman).
A partnership
and development agreement was signed for a residential neighbourhood and
community facilities on a 185,000 square metre area comprising 200 residential
units, with an investment of RO 30 million, to be developed by Desert Palm Tourism
Projects Company (Oman).
To provide an
integrated living environment and enhance community partnership, an agreement
was signed to develop a fully-serviced residential neighbourhood under the Sorouh
initiative within “Al Jabal Al A’ali” project. Spanning 200,000
square metres and comprising 200 residential units, it will be developed by a
corporation established by the people of Al Jabal Al Akhdar. This represents
one of the model community projects that enhances the concept of community
partnership and provides integrated living environments for the local
population.
An agreement
was also signed to rehabilitate the heritage village located in Al Jabal Al
A’ali Park, providing a distinctive tourism experience, adding commercial
service facilities, and creating a unique heritage and historical tourism
experience on a 10,000 square metre area, to be developed by Al Jurf Al Sharqi
Company.
The event also
witnessed the signing of a consultancy services agreement for the detailed
design of the master plan for the Al Jabal Al A’ali project, with an investment
value exceeding RO 3.6 million, in cooperation with “Nicholson Jones
Partnership Oman.”
Alongside
these projects, the event featured community contributions from the developing
companies. Both Mister Company and Kamcorp contributed RO 2 million each
in support of community projects and services in Al Jabal Al A’ali.
In Al Thuraya
City, an agreement was signed to develop Neighbourhood (8) on an area of 73,000
square metres. The project includes 28 residential units, a public park, and
integrated community facilities, with an investment value exceeding RO 25 million,
to be developed by Modon Development Company.
The tender for
executing infrastructure and road works in Al Thuraya City was awarded to Target
Company, with a total investment value of RO 38.2 million, in partnership with
Muscat Municipality, Nama Water Services, Nama Electricity Distribution, and
Oman Broadband Company, reflecting the integration of national efforts in
providing advanced infrastructure.
The
inauguration ceremony featured the launch of Oman’s Building Requirements and
Specifications Guide, which serves as a comprehensive national reference
consolidating safety and quality standards into a single framework. It
represents a pivotal step towards unifying engineering and construction
practices across all governorates.
The guide’s
issuance is part of the Ministry’s efforts, in cooperation with partners in the
Permanent Technical Committee for the Guide, to develop the building and
construction system and enhance regulatory and technical infrastructure efficiency.
This ensures minimum acceptable requirements for safety, public health, and
quality of life, based on scientific foundations, natural conditions, and
approved engineering standards, thereby promoting a safe, sustainable, and
economically efficient urban environment.
The Building
Requirements and Specifications Guide is part of an integrated technical
framework comprising six specialized guides covering various structural,
environmental, and technical aspects. These include: the General Building
Guide, the Guide for Existing and Historical Buildings, the Energy Efficiency
and Sustainability Guide, the Mechanical Guide, the Guide for Plumbing
Installations and Water Networks, and the Guide for Private Sewage Systems.
These guides
contribute to enhancing design and implementation efficiency, achieving a
balance between safety requirements, sustainability, and economic cost, thereby
entrenching a culture of responsible construction and improving the quality of
the urban environment in Oman.
The opening
ceremony also included the signing of two agreements to develop integrated
residential neighbourhoods in the South Al Batinah and South Al Sharqiyah
governorates, with a total investment value exceeding RO 11 million. This falls
within the “Surouh” initiative, which aims to create sustainable and
diverse urban communities across Oman’s governorates.
The first
agreement involves developing Al Multaqa Neighbourhood in the Wilayat of A’Rustaq
on an area exceeding 766,000 square metres. The project comprises 715
residential units, with a total estimated investment value of approximately RO 7
million, to be developed by Asawer Real Estate Development Company.
The second
agreement entails developing Al Falah Neighbourhood in the Wilayat of Ja’alan
Bani Bu Ali on an area exceeding 200,000 square metres. The project includes
188 residential units, with an investment value of RO 4 million, to be
developed by Tanfeedh Real Estate Company.
Regarding
investment opportunities, the event featured the announcement of eleven new
investment opportunities under the same initiative for establishing integrated
residential neighbourhoods and subdivisions in seven governorates, with a total
area exceeding 2.9 million square metres distributed across selected strategic
locations.
The targeted
governorates include Muscat, North A’Sharqiyah, South A’Sharqiyah, A’Dakhiliyah,
South Al Batinah, North Al Batinah, and Dhofar. This reflects the balanced
distribution of development projects across Oman and enhances partnership
between the public and private sectors in developing the modern housing system.
To facilitate
financing for beneficiaries in the integrated residential neighbourhood
projects, the event will witness the signing of ten cooperation agreements
between neighbourhood developers and financing institutions. This step aims to
provide facilitated and flexible financing solutions that meet the needs of
various groups and enhance ownership opportunities within modern,
fully-serviced residential environments.
On the
sidelines of the event, Dr. Khalfan bin Said Al Shueili, Minister of Housing
and Urban Planning, met with Amna Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and
Urban Planning of the Kingdom of Bahrain, to discuss cooperation mechanisms and
enhance relations contributing to the growth of the housing and urban planning
sectors in both countries. This step strengthens bilateral relations and opens
new investment horizons between the two countries.
The Home and
Building Expo will witness the signing of over 32 usufruct agreements in the
industrial, agricultural, and livestock production sectors, with a total
investment value exceeding RO 8.2 million and a total area exceeding 7 million
square metres. This includes 21 usufruct contracts for entrepreneurs and small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) and 11 agricultural usufruct contracts. This move
reflects the direction towards maximizing the use of government lands and
enhancing partnership with the private sector, contributing to supporting the
national economy, bolstering food security, encouraging agricultural
investment, generating new job opportunities and stimulating the local
investment environment.
An agreement
will also be signed for installing street and building signage as part of the
national addressing project in all governorates of Oman. The agreement involves
installing unified street and building signs to enhance accessibility and
location identification, supporting digital transformation and geographic
information services (GIS) at the governorate level. The investment value of
the agreement exceeds RO 1.3 million.
The event will
host evening sessions, most notably a dialogue session titled “Financing
and Policies for the Future of Sustainable Cities.” This session
highlights the formulation of economic and incentive policies to attract
investments, enhancing urban identity as a competitive element for cities, and
the role of cities as key drivers of the national economy.
The session
participants include Dr. Khalfan bin Said Al Shueili, Minister of Housing and
Urban Planning; Dr. Amna Mohammed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban
Planning of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Eng. Khaled Abbas, Chairman of the Board
and CEO of the Administrative Capital for Urban Development Company of the Arab
Republic of Egypt.
The evening
sessions also include dialogue presentations highlighting a group of pioneering
national projects, including Al Khuwair Downtown and the Greater Salalah
Structure Plan, aiming to provide the event’s visitors with the opportunity to
learn about the key features of future projects and their role in enhancing
urban development.
The Home and
Building Expo offers a comprehensive interactive experience for visitors,
featuring over 226 diverse pavilions. It allows visitors to closely explore the
major future projects shaping urban development in Oman, most notably Sultan
Haitham City, Al Thuraya City, the Al Jabal Al A’ali project and the Surouh
initiative for integrated residential neighbourhoods.
The exhibition
is a unique opportunity for visitors to learn about available housing options,
including the “Your First Home” initiative, which allows citizens
with housing applications the opportunity to own a subsidized apartment within
fully-serviced neighbourhoods. This is alongside the facilitated financing
solutions offered by participating financial institutions to explore investment
and ownership opportunities, enhancing integration between the public and
private sectors in supporting the housing and real estate development system.
The exhibition
features diverse pavilions displaying the latest smart home solutions, interior
design and décor innovations, furniture and furnishings products, and modern
building material technologies. It thus forms an integrated platform bringing
all solutions under one roof and enriches the visitor experience through a
blend of knowledge, innovation, and investment opportunities.
The exhibition
also includes a series of diverse and innovative events, most notably the fifth
edition of the Urban Planning Hackathon, “Makers of Tomorrow,” which
provides a stimulating environment for youth to transform their ideas into
pioneering projects contributing to building more sustainable and innovative
cities.
The events also include knowledge and
educational initiatives such as the “Urban Riddle,” which blends
learning and entertainment to introduce visitors to the fundamentals of urban
planning and smart cities, alongside urban planning debates that seek to raise
community awareness and enhance youth participation in shaping the future of
Omani cities.
— Ends/Khalid
