Muscat – The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MHUP) on Sunday announced the governorates of Dhofar, Musandam, and South Batinah as winners for their outstanding development project proposals.

This annual competition is in line with the Royal Directives, emphasising the need for coordination and synergy among all units of the state’s administrative apparatus for development of governorates.

The winning proposals are the Rathath (Drizzle) Boulevard project of Dhofar, the Aames Bay development project of Musandam, and the Rimal Park project of South Batinah.

“Three governorates have been recognised for their exceptional development project proposals, which will receive government support and involve private sector participation,” an official from the ministry said.

The competition had 11 projects nominated by different governorates.

In the initial phase, five governorates qualified for the second round of evaluation. Subsequently, the evaluation results were presented to the Financial and Economic Committee of the Council of Ministers, which ultimately selected the three winning governorates.

To ensure a fair evaluation process, this committee led by MHUP was established with representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, and the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit.

Dhofar governorate’s Rathath Boulevard project, spread across an expansive 470,000sqm area in Salalah’s Itin, will be implemented at a cost of RO40mn over a span of four years.

This project will have the Salalah Eye Ferris wheel, captivating fountains, restaurants, walkways, vibrant shopping areas, engaging exhibitions, and thrilling theatres, among other attractions.

The Rimal Park project of South Batinah will come up on the Batinah Expressway at a cost of RO6.9mn. Spread over an area of 225,000sqm, the park will feature a cable car, a resort, an amusement park, charming food carts, a retail centre, and ample parking facilities.

The project – to be completed within two years – will foster sustainable tourism, generate direct and indirect employment opportunities, and promote growth among small and medium-sized enterprises.

The RO6.9mn project for Aames Bay development in Musandam will enhance connectivity and infrastructure, stimulate tourism, and create new investment opportunities in the governorate.

The project over an area of 68,700sqm in Lima is slated for completion within 21 months.

Dr Nasser bin Rashid al Ma’awali, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy, said the objective of this initiative is to foster development in various governorates.