Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has signed an agreement to develop Rawasi, an integrated tourism complex (ITC) in Jabal Bausher with a planned investment of RO558mn.

Spread over 993,000sqm, the project will be implemented in four phases over 15 years.

The agreement was signed by H E Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, and Khalid bin Nasser Al Mahrouqi, CEO of Rawasi Development.

The ministry said the project is part of efforts to promote quality tourism investments and expand ITCs, supporting economic diversification in line with Oman Vision 2040.

Located at elevations ranging from 320m to 720m above sea level, the site overlooks Muscat and is designed to combine mountain tourism, wellness and accommodation within a single masterplan.

The development will include residential units, hotels, resorts, and commercial and leisure facilities. The first phase comprises a five-star hotel, hotel apartments and residential units including villas, townhouses and apartments, alongside retail and service components.

Later phases will introduce a health and family resort, a wellness centre, a mountain park and facilities for adventure activities. The ministry said the concept aims to broaden tourism offerings in Muscat governorate.

Rawasi will operate under the freehold ownership framework applicable to ITCs in Oman, allowing foreign nationals to purchase property within the project. Officials said this is expected to attract foreign investment and support urban growth linked to the tourism sector.

The masterplan adopts a phased approach aligned with the mountainous terrain, incorporating open spaces and terraced landscaping to preserve the site’s natural character.

The ministry said the project is expected to create direct and indirect employment opportunities, strengthen local content and support growth in hospitality and wellness tourism.

Last month, Chedi Hospitality, headquartered in Dubai, announced a partnership with Rawasi Development for a proposed mountain destination in Jabal Bausher. The group said early plans envisage a tiered masterplan featuring a hotel, private residences and lifestyle components arranged across varying elevations.