Al Batinah South highlights developmental achievements, future plans

AL RUSTAQ: Al Batinah South Governorate affirmed its continuation in executing ambitious developmental plans centred on enhancing quality of life, stimulating investment and developing infrastructure and services.
This was highlighted during the annual media briefing for the year 2026, held on Thursday at the office of the Wali of Al Rustaq under the theme 'Our Future is Bright and Our Journey is Earnest'. The briefing reviewed the most prominent achievements accomplished by the governorate during the past period, alongside the ongoing developmental projects being implemented and the targeted future plans up to the year 2030.
Eng Masoud bin Said al Hashmi, Governor of Al Batinah South, explained that the governorate has witnessed a remarkable development in institutional performance. He pointed out that this improvement reflects the efficiency of institutional work and the integration among various government entities in the governorate.
He noted that the governorate has achieved advanced levels in indicators of institutional innovation, transaction efficiency and beneficiary satisfaction. He emphasised that the governorate continues to develop its digital services through the national 'Tajawob' platform, which handled more than 2,144 requests, reports, proposals and complaints with high completion rates.
He touched upon the most prominent municipal, recreational and tourism projects implemented during the past year. Among these was the development project of Nakhal Public Park, spanning an area exceeding 47 thousand square metres, which includes diverse entertainment and investment facilities. This is in addition to the execution of the first phase of the Sand Park project in the Wilayat of Nakhal, which included paving internal roads and parking lots and installing smart lighting poles.
The Governor affirmed the completion of a number of modern and traditional markets across the governorate's wilayats, most notably the Tawi Al Hara development project, the Wadi Al Maawil commercial market, and the Al Awabi market, contributing to the support of commercial activity, the empowerment of small enterprises and productive families and the enhancement of tourism attraction.
In the tourism and environmental sector, the governorate announced the completion of the second phase of the 'Ain Al Kasfah' development project. This phase included the construction of swimming pools, service facilities, umbrellas and guiding signs to serve visitors, in a step aimed at reinforcing the governorate's tourism potentials and raising the quality of services provided at natural sites.
Regarding infrastructure, the Governor explained that the governorate implemented projects to pave internal roads with a total length of 215 kilometres distributed across various wilayats of the governorate. This is alongside implementing road re-planning projects stretching 255 kilometres, installing lighting poles and constructing box culverts and water drainage channels in a number of locations affected by climatic conditions.
He emphasised that the investment sector receives continuous attention, as the governorate offered 24 diverse investment opportunities, 15 of which have been awarded, while the remaining opportunities are still under study and awarding procedures. He pointed out that the governorate is working to attract more qualitative investments that contribute to stimulating the local economy and creating job opportunities.
The Governor indicated that the winter camping season witnessed remarkable growth, as the number of organised winter camps reached 235 camps distributed across a number of the governorate's wilayats, with the Wilayat of Barka leading the count. This indicator reflects the growing tourism activity and the demand for the natural potentials with which the governorate abounds.
With regard to future targets up to the year 2030, the briefing explained that the governorate seeks to raise the number of utilised investment opportunities to 76 opportunities, increase the contracts awarded to small and medium enterprises and raise the number of utilised tourist sites from 4 sites to 22 sites. This is in addition to reducing the percentage of job-seekers, raising community satisfaction rates with government and basic services and increasing green spaces as well as recycling and afforestation rates. - ONA