Muscat: The Governorate of Muscat is witnessing the implementation of a number of major development projects that boost its economic and tourism landscape to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development.
Sultan Haitham City is the major project in Muscat as it is the first integrated and smart city in the Sultanate of Oman, with a total area of (14 million square metres).
The Governorate of Muscat seeks to expand the scope of investment opportunities and increase the number of sites ready for investment, augment the percentage of utilization of tourist sites, develop entertainment venues and increase green spaces, in addition to implementing new projects, activating decentralization in providing government services, and laying emphasis on digital transformation and modern technologies.
Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat, affirmed that the governorate pays great attention to empowering youth and enhancing their participation in development, in accordance with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s vision that places youth at the heart of development.
In this context, the governorate organizes the "Muscat Dialogue Sessions" annually to address development topics of interest, giving the youth an opportunity to express their opinions and present their ideas, said Sayyid Saud.
He added that the governorate also supports youth initiatives in partnership with the public and private sectors, to polish their skills and qualify them for the labour market and entrepreneurship. Among these initiatives is a health and sports project that aims to empower the community through sports activities and generate new job opportunities.
Sayyid Saud explained to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the municipal sector in the governorate has also launched several initiatives related to youth, including the “Oman Planning Hackathon” to develop innovative solutions in sustainable urban planning, and a competition to develop the surroundings of the Wadi Darsait (valley) in cooperation with a group of students.
In addition, the governorate’s wilayats organize various youth events such as the “Sports and Beach Games Forum” in the Wilayat of Bausher, which includes sports activities and training courses. Within the framework of future plans, the governorate intends to create an electronic platform through its official website to enable youth to present their ideas and aspirations, added Sayyid Saud.
He pointed out that Muscat Governorate seeks to enhance coordination with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to ensure that development projects are compatible with the Greater Muscat Master Plan, which is one of the outcomes of the National Urban Development Strategy in accordance with Oman Vision 2040. This approach, said Sayyid Saud, aims at achieving a balance between economic growth and quality of life through the integration of land uses, public transportation, and sustainable green spaces.
He explained that coordination is underway to implement projects that include the development of residential neighbourhoods, including the Muttrah Development Project and the Sultan Qaboos Port Waterfront, which contribute to building an integrated and sustainable urban environment that meets the needs of current generations and future aspirations.
He pointed out that the governorate seeks to implement qualitative projects that are consistent with its strategy, as the governorate has completed the preparation of the general plan and detailed maps for the Bimmah Sinkhole Development Project in the Wilayat of Quriyat as a tender will be floated to implement the construction works for the project on an area of (498,758) square meters. The project includes the establishment of areas for hiking and camping, providing necessary services, and increasing the green area.
He added that a tender was also floated for the implementation of the detailed plan for the development project of the Bausher Sands area in the Wilayat of Bausher. He explained that the project will be implemented in phases and within an area of 362,000 square meters and will include an area designated for four-wheel drive bikes, a special building for renting and maintaining bikes, various entertainment and family areas, and multi-storey parking lots.
Sayyid Saud pointed out that work is underway on the detailed plan for the Ain Ghala development project, completing the consultation services and preparing the basic plans for the Al-Qurm area development project (beach and reserve), as well as preparing detailed maps for the sea road.
As for the Quriyat Waterfront Development Project, he noted that the initial design has been completed and will include a walkway, bicycle paths, facilities for visitors, green spaces, and an area allocated for restaurants, cafes and shaded seating areas.
Sayyid Saud added: “The governorate also assigned last September the consultation services for the master plan for the development of the Qurum Commercial District.
Consultation services were also assigned for the development of the Al-Mahj Commercial District in the Wilayat of Al Amirat. A tender was also floated to implement the Ruwi Commercial District Development Project, in a manner that supports economic and commercial activities”.
He also pointed to some major projects in the Governorate of Muscat, such as Sultan Haitham City, the Sustainable City Yiti, Al Khuwair downtown and Tilal Al Irfan.
In the municipal sector, the Governor of Muscat explained that during this year, a number of service projects will be implemented in various fields, as the main projects focus on developing the road network in Muscat Governorate, most notably the tender for expanding Muscat Expressway. It will include six lanes in each direction, with the improvement of bridges and intersections.
He added that the projects also include converting the service road in Al Khuwair into a one-way road to improve traffic and the Al Ansab-Al Jifnain dual carriageway project with a length of up to 15 km, which includes the construction of a road with three lanes in each direction with bridges and intersections, in addition to other road projects.
He also touched on the projects that the municipal sector is currently working on, including the Muttrah Square Project, that won Bilarab bin Haitham Award for Architectural Design.
Sayyid Saud also talked about the digital transformation and smart infrastructure projects in Muscat Governorate, including the smart signal operating system, through which 50 sensors and 52 cameras were installed at traffic light intersections, in addition to the unified municipal system project, which aims to digitize 93 services and 14 smart initiatives in its first phase, in order to enhance the efficiency of services provided to citizens.
He underlined the municipal sector’s keenness to increase green spaces in Muscat Governorate by constructing more parks and gardens. He pointed out that Muscat Governorate includes (144) parks and gardens distributed over (11) public parks, (126) parks in residential neighborhoods, and (7) gardens.
In the field of environment conservation, he said: “Muscat Governorate seeks to enhance sustainability among its priorities in cooperation with the Environment Authority and other governmental and private entities, to achieve the goals of the Sultanate of Oman to reach zero neutrality by 2050.
Within the context of this approach, the Governorate launched the “Green Muscat” initiative to increase the vegetation cover, within the framework of the national initiative to plant (10) million trees, which contributes to improving air quality and public health.
The governorate also participates in the national campaign to combat invasive birds.
Muscat Governorate also signed an agreement to establish several environmental initiatives and projects, such as: establishing five parks in residential neighbourhoods, and the “Al-Khuwair Square” project in cooperation with Jindal Company, in addition to establishing parking lots covered with solar panels, and an agreement with the German University to design a sustainable garden to capture carbon”.
On the tourism side, Sayyid Saud explained that Muscat Governorate realizes the importance of tourism as a fundamental pillar of the economy and is constantly working to enhance its role in providing integrated services that support this vital sector.
He pointed out that within the context of close cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the Governorate is committed to developing the infrastructure in tourist sites by providing roads, lighting, health facilities, and necessary installations, which contribute to improving the visitors’ experience and meeting their expectations.
The Governorate, said Sayyid Saud, coordinates with the Ministry to implement multiple tourism projects, including developing a number of sites that it supervises, in addition to supporting projects implemented by the Ministry in Muscat Governorate, such as the Omani Botanic Garden project, where the municipal sector contributes to expanding the road leading to the garden, in addition to the development project of the waterfront at Sultan Qaboos Port, and the Muttrah Tourist Path project, which is currently underway.
The Governorate also organizes various events such as the “Muscat Nights Festival” and other activities aimed at attracting tourists and activating local tourism.
As far as the social work is concerned, He pointed out that the Governorate of Muscat and the Ministry of Social Development, in cooperation with the offices of walis in the Governorate are performing several prominent tasks through the Social Development Committees.
He said that the most prominent social development projects being implemented in Muscat Governorate are the establishment of a water therapy unit at Al Wafa Centre for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in Al Amerat, in addition to design and engineering consultancy works to establish a juvenile detention facility.
On the health sector side, Sayyid Saud affirmed that Muscat Governorate witnessed the launch of a number of vital projects during 2023 and 2024, to ensure the provision of integrated health services that meet the needs of society, such as the Menagen Pharmaceutical Industries Factory in the Rusayl Industrial Area and the opening of an Omani start-up in the field of manufacturing transparent dental aligners with specialized Omani cadres. This is in addition to expanding many health centers and opening new polyclinics.
He also talked about the progress in the education sector in Muscat Governorate. In this context, he referred to the increasing number of schools in the governorate.
Sayyid Saud Hilal al Busaidi concluded his statement by highlighting the efforts exerted to boost the fisheries sector and support the fishermen in various wilayats of the governorate.
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