Muscat - The iconic Muttrah Souq, facing the Sea of Oman, will undergo a facelift with Muscat Municipality issuing a tender for its refurbishment, which will include adding a number of facilities using sustainable technologies among others.The Muttrah Souq Development Project is aimed at developing the level of Souq infrastructure with more facilities and services that are consistent with its historical and cultural identity.
Muttrah Souq, is one of the oldest markets in the Arab world and is a popular destination among cruise or any tourists to the Sultanate of Oman, consists of alleyways stuffed with small shops selling basic essentials
to collectables. Visitors can explore the place for shopping clothes, souvenirs, utensils, Omani frankincense, spices, oils, jewelry, pots, among others.
The development project has been welcomed by businesses at the souq who have struggled to stay afloat during the non-tourism season, especially the long summer months.
Apart from making cosmetic changes to the Souq to make it a more attractive destination for tourists, the project includes canopies with solar panels that will help with reducing power consumption as part of the plans for net-zero carbon emissions.
The other projects include replacing roofs made of unstable materials, LED lighting for corridors, adding extra entrances, a smart site map of the Souq, having new walkways, benches and chairs, sculptures, and an archaeological rest house.
Muttrah Souk has narrow winding alleys roofed with wood. Among the locals, this souk is called the Market of Darkness, with its myriad of alleys and roads lined by shops that block the sun during the day. This name applies to the section that extends from the Prophet's Mosque to Khawr Bimbah.
The east and west parts of Mutrah Souk, separated by Khawr Bimbah, are also known as 'the small market' and 'the large market'.
The Market of Darkness is the small market, whereas the large market is for wholesale.
Off late, Muttrah Souq has been facing continuous problems of flooding after every heavy rain (evident through viral videos), bringing in heavy losses to the shop owners there.
Recently, the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries, and Water Resources invited tender for consultancy services for feasibility study, detailed design and construction, and supervision of the flood protection scheme in Muttrah.
The scope of work for the consultancy services shall cover the Muttrah area and the study shall comprise a comprehensive technical, economic, financial, environmental, and social analysis.
It is envisaged that dams in the mountainous area are used to hold back floodwaters after heavy rainfall and channels are designed to carry the flows released by the dams and local flow generated by tributary wadis/channels, keeping flood waters out of the development area.
The study can include all possible options to achieve the project objectives, these options include but are not limited to the construction of the dam, designing/modification of drainage improvement of the wadi courses, new artificial water channels to avoid massive relocations, and where possible.
The other infrastructure includes development-related flood protection works such as pipe culverts, box culvert diversion works, etc.
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