Muscat – Oman has entered into the significant phase of urban development mission with the commencement of the construction work for the first phase of Sultan Haitham City recently.

STRABAG Oman, entrusted with the early phase construction works, is currently laying the groundwork for road infrastructure, streamlining the wadi, and enhancing the area around the city’s central park, officials informed.

This marks a significant milestone following last year’s agreement to kickstart Sultan Haitham City’s development, which has been adopted to catapult the standard of urban living in Oman to a new height.

This project, which envisages establishing a sustainable city in alignment with the contemporary aspirations of Oman’s youth, focuses on incorporating advanced construction concepts, anticipating future urban development methodologies.

The proposed project has brought together expertise from around the globe to craft a city which can duly reflect Oman’s rich cultural heritage while enhancing the living standards of its residents.

Spanning over 14mn sqm, the city’s master plan is a testament to sustainable urban design, emphasising the integration of green spaces across approximately 3mn sqm, experts commented.

The city will have accommodations for 100,000 residents, offering a mix of 20,000 diverse housing units alongside comprehensive service facilities.

The first phase, to be completed by 2030, will witness development of around 6mn sqm to accommodate over 39,000 individuals in more than 7,000 housing units, the project report says.

This phase will see massive infrastructure development, including a sprawling central park, a national centre for women and children’s health, a reference hospital with 1,200 beds, a college of advanced technology for 1,500 students, youth and rehabilitation centres, a cultural centre, school complexes for 6,900 students, health centres, a mosque, and institutions for medical education and health sciences.

The project witnessed the signing of 21 development and partnership agreements in June last year, involving government bodies and the private sector. These collaborations, valued at over RO1bn, cover real estate development, finance, services, and infrastructure, setting a solid foundation for the city’s comprehensive development.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, alongside its partners, is inching close to finalising agreements for construction of main roads, development of other infrastructure, and residential neighbourhoods.

These plans include a holistic approach to urban development, integrating water, sanitation, electricity, broadband, and green spaces to meet the city’s executive plan’s goals.

Particularly notable is the effort to ensure housing affordability within Sultan Haitham City. Through partnerships with eight banks, the city offers attractive financing options, including a discounted rate of 3.5%.

The Oman Housing Bank has raised its financing limit to RO80,000, and 5% of the housing units are earmarked for the residential housing assistance programme, catering to those eligible for government land grants at subsidised rates.

Moreover, provisions have been made to allow non-Omanis and investors property ownership within the city, subject to specific terms and conditions.