Oman

Muscat Expressway expansion to be awarded in coming weeks

Published: 12:01 PM,Jan 12,2026 | EDITED : 10:01 AM,Jan 13,2026

 

The Muscat Expressway Expansion, which is one of the important projects to be undertaken by the Ministry of Transport of Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT), will be awarded in the first quarter of 2026, probably in the coming weeks, which was stated in reply to a query from the Observer by the Undersecretary for Land Transport.

The Minister of Transport of Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), Saeed bin Hamoud bin Saeed al Maawali, added, 'The Muscat Expressway expansion project is in its final stages, and we expect it to be awarded within a week. The project will take around 36 weeks to complete and has been redesigned and focused on specific areas, and the delay is to ensure the final result will alleviate traffic congestion for a longer period. Therefore, we have concentrated on bottlenecks, particularly the entrances and exits, especially at Qurum, Al Khoudh, Sultan Qaboos University (the sixth entrance), and the entrances to the Eastern and Interior regions at Al Mawaleh.

The ministry is in the process of finalizing the procedures for awarding this expansion project, which has been accorded top priority in the State General Budget 2026.

An amount of RO2.7 billion has been allocated in the Budget for the implementation of about 2,525 kilometers of main and internal roads across governorates, including for the Muscat Expressway Project. MTCIT has opened the financial bid for the consultancy services for supervision of the construction of the Muscat Expressway.

The Muscat Expressway Widening Project includes five lanes in each direction, starting from Al Qurm to Al Khuwair, and six lanes in each direction from Al Khuwair to match the four lanes of the existing Batinah Expressway (BEW) after the Halban Interchange, east to south, and a two-lane left-turn directional flyover from westbound Al Nahda Street to southbound Muscat ExpresswayThe projects include upgrading the existing Saih Al Maleh roundabout to a signalized interchange and widening the wadi bridges, construction of improvements to Qurm Interchange, Saih Al Maleh Roundabout, and widening of Qurm Heights Road.

The scope of the project includes connecting Sultan Haitham City to the Muscat Expressway.

The consultant to supervise the construction of the Muscat Expressway Widening Project is requested to direct traffic from Nizwa to Suhar, the Muscat Expressway to Bidbid-Nizwa Road, and ensure free traffic from Interchange 11 to Burj al Sahwa roundabout and free right from Interchange 12 to the Al Khoud signalized intersection.

The 54 km-long expressway runs parallel to Sultan Qaboos Street away from the coast and through the mountains. It joins the Batinah Expressway that goes up to the United Arab Emirates border at Khatmat Malaha
Besides taking some of the traffic load from Sultan Qaboos Street, the Muscat Expressway project was completed in different phases to provide access to inaccessible areas and open up new areas for development.
Since its official opening in 2010, the project has emerged as the key road network of the country, especially with the real estate and tourism development of Madinat al Irfan, Bausher, Airport Heights, and the Rusayl Industrial Area, among others.