Muscat – Sultan Haitham City has moved a step closer to welcoming its first residents after three electrical substations with a combined capacity of 160 MVA were commissioned to supply power to key facilities, neighbourhoods and development projects.

The substations, inaugurated on Monday by Nama Electricity Distribution Company, cost more than RO12mn and form part of phased preparations for the first residents to move into Hay Al Wafaa by the end of 2026.

The inauguration was held under the patronage of H E Dr Khalfan bin Saeed Al Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning.

The commissioning comes as construction and infrastructure activity accelerates across the new city. All residential neighbourhoods and real estate development projects have entered the implementation phase, while landscaping works have started and several tenders awarded this year have been completed.

Alaa Hassan Mousa Al Lawati, CEO of Nama Electricity Distribution Company, said the commissioning represented an important milestone in preparing Sultan Haitham City for occupancy.

He said the projects reflected the company’s commitment to developing electricity infrastructure capable of serving residents and supporting the city’s long-term growth.

Nasser Al Hadrami, Executive Director of Future Projects at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, said the newly operational substations are already supplying electricity to a number of key facilities.

These include government schools in Hay Al Wafaa, Muscat Private International School, street-lighting systems and the district cooling network.

Power is also being supplied to residential neighbourhoods and developments including Hay Al Wafaa, Al Sarooj Oasis, Yanaier Residences, Wadi Tala and Wadi Safa.

The electricity milestone is being matched by progress on other major infrastructure packages.

Al Hadrami said the sewage network project has crossed 90% completion, while infrastructure utility networks and roads have reached 64%. Bridge construction has also exceeded 90%.

Work is continuing on the expansion of the Halban-Mabela road beside the city and on improvements to service roads in surrounding areas.

Road connectivity is also being expanded through the 12th package of works, construction of which has now begun.

The package includes a new link between Sultan Haitham City and Muscat Expressway through Mabela Exit 2, improvements to roads handling traffic from Mabela Exit 3 and an underpass designed to improve access to the city and neighbouring districts.

It also includes bridges providing direct access from Muscat Expressway into Sultan Haitham City, as well as bridges on Halban Road for traffic arriving from Mabela Exit 3.

The road projects are intended to improve access to the city and connect its neighbourhoods and developments more efficiently with the wider road network.

The latest progress highlights the shift in Sultan Haitham City from construction planning towards operational readiness, with electricity, roads, drainage and other essential services being brought online ahead of the first phase of occupancy.