Salalah – Five investment opportunities worth around RO1.95bn have been announced in Dhofar, spanning urban development, real estate, ecotourism and marine tourism, as the government seeks to attract local and international capital into projects that build on the governorate’s natural and tourism assets.

The opportunities have been listed by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion on its Invest Oman platform in coordination with Dhofar Municipality, the Environment Authority, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.

The largest is Future Salalah City, an integrated urban development planned over an area of up to 10sqkm, with an estimated investment value of RO1.9bn.

The project will combine residential, commercial, healthcare, educational, recreational and hospitality uses, offering multiple entry points for private sector investors while supporting long-term urban and economic growth in Dhofar.

Another major opportunity is Sahoul Al Radhadh in the Attin area of Salalah. The RO40mn integrated development will cover around 470,000sqm and include hospitality, retail, entertainment and business facilities, in addition to public spaces and community amenities.

Government investment in the project is estimated at RO15mn, with the development aimed at strengthening Attin’s position as a tourism and leisure destination.

In the ecotourism segment, investors are being invited to develop the Botanical Memory Garden at Razat Plain. The RO4mn project will cover around 1.5mn sqm and combine the conservation of rare and endangered Omani plants with scientific research, education and tourism.

A RO3.9mn eco-lodge and visitor centre at Khor Senaq, in Hasik, within Jabal Samhan mountain range, is planned over 47,000sqm.

The masterplan includes a multi-storey visitor centre with an interactive museum, café, restaurant and educational halls, alongside 60 accommodation units comprising 20 gazebo units and 40 capsule apartments.

An 18,000sqm experience zone would feature water-based activities, nature trails, wildlife observation platforms, education facilities and wellness areas. Renewable energy and low-impact environmental systems are also proposed.

The fifth opportunity is a RO1.5mn diving club in the Hallaniyat Islands, covering around 5,000sqm. The project would offer diving instruction, equipment rental, marine excursions and environmentally sensitive accommodation, capitalising on the islands’ marine biodiversity.

Dr Ahmed bin Mohsen Al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, said the governorate’s natural, geographical and economic advantages made it well placed to attract investment in tourism, urban development and the green economy.

He said the projects are intended to convert those strengths into value-added developments that support economic diversification and enhance Dhofar’s position as a year-round tourism and investment destination.

Lamia bint Sultan Al Habsi, Assistant Director General of Investment Promotion at the ministry, said the opportunities provide diverse options for investors and are part of wider efforts to present viable projects and connect interested parties with the relevant government entities.