Salalah – The Smart Cities Conference, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning and Dhofar Municipality, in collaboration with Oman Society of Engineers, started in Salalah on Sunday.

The two-day conference was inaugurated by Dr Ahmed bin Mohsen al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, in the presence of several senior officials, experts and specialists.

Fouad bin Abdullah al Kindi, Chairman of Oman Society of Engineers, delivered the opening speech in which he said this year’s conference focuses on concepts, trends and future visions of smart cities, urban development and infrastructure sustainability in Oman, with attention on Dhofar in particular.

Kindi highlighted the conference’s objective to review the latest technologies and innovations aimed at enhancing urban life and sustainability. It will also focus on developing policies that support sustainable urban growth through smart city initiatives and projects, including strategies for urban development and infrastructure.

Day 1 featured a visual presentation on sustainable smart cities, along with presentation of six working papers addressing flexible and sustainable transportation systems and their integration into Oman’s smart cities framework.

Additionally, there were discussions on green buildings and strategies for building comprehensive smart cities and incorporating these into Oman’s urban ecosystem.

The day also had a dialogue session that explored emerging technologies in sustainable smart cities, showcasing global experiences in smart city development and the establishment of infrastructure that aligns with the latest technologies and practices, while emphasising sustainability and environmental preservation.

The conference is part of the third edition of the Salalah Engineering Forum. Its goal is to facilitate exchange of experiences and knowledge among participants, explore the latest methods in developing sustainable smart cities, and foster partnerships between government and academic institutions as well as private sector entities.