Muscat – Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) has started construction of Wadi Adai Dam, a project crucial to enhancing Muscat’s flood protection mechanism.

Laid across Wadi Adai in the wilayat of Muttrah, the dam is being built at a cost of RO38mn.

Nasser bin Mohammed al Battashi, Director General of Water Resources at MAFWR, stated that the dam is strategically positioned to manage rain and flood waters originating from six southern wadis in the wilayat of Amerat, including water flow from Al Ahbas al Alawiyah to Qurum.

“This dam is a crucial part of our flood protection strategy designed to safeguard Qurum commercial area and support urban development in Amerat against heavy rains,” Battashi informed.

Construction started in February 2024 and will take 30 months with completion expected in 2026 end. Wadi Adai Dam, the third among a system of six planned, follows completion of Amerat Dam and Al Jufaina Dam.

Elaborating on the technical aspects of the dam, Battashi informed its construction involves deep foundation treatment up to 50m below the surface and includes a composite structure of stone and compacted earth stretching 220m in length and 39m in height. Additionally, the dam will feature a central asphalt core to prevent water seepage and a side concrete spillway designed to handle the maximum flood water volume, complemented by gates to regulate water discharge.

The dam’s reservoir is designed to hold up to 23mn m3 of water. To ensure structural integrity, MAFWR plans to equip the dam with various monitoring instruments. These will include devices to track groundwater level, water level in the lake, silt accumulation and potential subsidence.