Muscat – The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MHUP) signed seven agreements on Tuesday to design master plans of seven future cities in the sultanate.

The agreements were inked on the sidelines of a real estate development conference, which concluded on Tuesday at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC).

A statement issued by MHUP said, ‘The agreements were for the future cities of Salalah, Sohar, Greater Nizwa, Haima, Ibri, Bausher and Khor Grama in Sur. The plans will include developing balanced urban development in the respective cities.’

The future cities offer an integrated model of housing societies with multiple features spread over a total area exceeding 20mn sqm.

The agreements were signed by Ibrahim Waili, Director of Oman National Spatial Strategy and Director of Transformation at MHUP, with officials of leading companies in the field of urban planning and building future cities.

“Future cities aim to transform the urban landscape, with over 40,000 housing units being planned in these cities, benefiting more than 150,000 people,” Waili said at the signing.

According to Waili, these units will be available for purchase to Omanis and non-Omanis.

H E Dr Khalfan bin Saeed al Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, recently stated that 30mn to 40mn sqm of land in wilayats of Muscat governorate, Salalah in Dhofar and Sohar in North Batinah have been allocated for investments to establish modern cities with integrated services.

This plan and others such as the master plans for Greater Muscat and Greater Salalah represent the third phase of Oman’s urban strategy.