Muscat – The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology spent more than RO188mn on development projects during the first nine months of 2026, with road projects accounting for 68% of approved funds.

Fahd bin Salim Al Hinai, Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the ministry, said road infrastructure received the largest share of development spending, led by three major projects with combined expenditure exceeding RO65mn.

The Sultan Faisal bin Turki Road project in Musandam – Dibba-Khasab and Lima link – accounted for more than RO32mn. It was followed by the Sultan Said bin Taimur Road project, involving the dualisation of the Adam-Thumrait road, at RO24mn, and the Mughsail Bridge dualisation project at RO9mn.

Around RO8mn was also spent on repairing damage caused by adverse weather during 2026.

Other spending covered development projects in Al Mouj and on 18 November Street, airport projects and projects whose responsibilities were transferred to the ministry from other entities.

Al Hinai said the ministry was focusing on directing funds towards priority development projects while improving the management of liquidity, commitments and payments to contractors and suppliers.

The ministry’s actual revenues also increased. Collections from January to the end of July reached about RO29.09mn, up more than RO3.48mn from the same period in 2025.

The ministry is also upgrading its financial management system as part of broader administrative and digital reforms. Measures include digitising financial procedures, improving liquidity and payment management, and classifying bank guarantees linked to development projects.

Progress in this area has reached about 60%, while the archiving of development project documents has reached 65%.

The ministry is also working to automate payment procedures for development projects to shorten documentation cycles, accelerate transactions and strengthen monitoring.

Al Hinai said the transfer of project responsibilities to the ministry was helping unify planning, supervision and monitoring and improve the use of financial resources.

The approach also covers communications and information technology projects, including initiatives linked to artificial intelligence programmes and the National Space Programme, alongside efforts to strengthen road infrastructure and its resilience to adverse weather.

The ministry’s 2026 executive plan also focuses on improving resource allocation, financial sustainability, public spending efficiency and revenue generation, alongside workforce development and stronger institutional performance.

Al Hinai said the ministry would continue investing in skills, partnerships and digital solutions to improve administrative and financial performance and support the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.