Work on waterfront development set to commence later this year

Muscat – Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has revealed a  masterplan for redevelopment of Salalah’s waterfront, a key project in Oman’s RO33bn development pipeline under Oman Vision 2040. The Salalah New City waterfront development is set to commence later this year.

Covering 7.3sqkm, the project is designed by international design firm Sasaki and will feature over 12,000 residential units, housing 60,000 residents in four walking distance neighbourhoods.

The development prioritises mixed-use spaces, with focus on soft mobility, and will include 3.5mn sqm of open space and parks, 200,000sqm of retail and hospitality space, 100,000sqm of cultural amenities, two hospitals, and integrated transport links. A pedestrianised marina will offer retail, tourism and hospitality facilities.

A key feature of the plan is a 6km public beach, aimed at enhancing Salalah’s appeal as a year-round coastal destination. The design also incorporates climate resilience measures to address rising sea levels and flooding, particularly during khareef. These include a wetland park, revetments and natural infrastructure solutions to mitigate extreme weather impacts.

The waterfront development is part of the Greater Salalah Structural Plan, which aims to improve liveability, infrastructure and mobility, while accommodating the city’s projected population growth to 674,000 by 2040. The project will be developed in phases, with the first phase delivering 5,827 residential units. It is expected to generate a 10.2% return for developers.

The waterfront initiative aligns with Oman’s broader economic diversification goals and target of RO51bn in tourism investment by 2040. This follows an investment of RO7.8bn between 2021 and 2023. Oman aims to increase tourism’s contribution to the GDP to 5% by 2030 and 10% by 2040.

H E Dr Khalfan al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, said, “With works due to begin this year, we look forward to bringing Salalah New City to fruition with the Omani people and leading international partners, investors and developers.”

Romil Sheth, Principal Designer at Sasaki Associates, described Salalah as “blessed with incredible natural features and a deep history – lush wadis, local agriculture embedded in the city and an extensive coastline with sandy beaches”.

To complement these assets, the Salalah New City plan adopts “forward-looking urban design, place-making and planning practices that challenge status-quo urbanism and reflect an aspirational lifestyle for Dhofaris. The plan will serve as Oman’s living laboratory for urban innovation and a model for sustainable urbanism in the broader region”.