Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has accelerated the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects under the 11th Five-Year Plan.
Dr. Saif bin Saeed Al Sinani, Director General of Planning at MTCIT, said that the Ministry is currently implementing about 61 projects in the roads sector in various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, including the construction of new roads, rehabilitation and upgrading of existing roads and completion of several vital projects, noting that about 22 projects have exceeded the actual completion rate of 70 percent by the end of mid-2026.
Completion of Projects
He said that 2026 was an exceptional year in terms of the number of completed or planned projects. The first half of the year saw the inauguration of several vital projects, most notably the dual carriageway of Sultan Taimur Street and Al Farouq Street, the Itin Tunnel intersection project, the road paving project in the Wilayat of Muqshin, the completion of the rehabilitation of the Tawi Atir-Wadi Rakah-Jabjat road, the paving project of the Al Aflaj road in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi in the North Sharqiyah Governorate, and several projects related to the implementation and repair of infrastructure in areas affected by the tropical monsoon storm.
Projects to be completed in 2026
The second half of the year will witness the completion of several road projects, including the completion of the Turki bin Said Road from Al Kamil to Sur, the rehabilitation of the Sultan Thuwaini bin Said Road from Bidbid to Nizwa, the road leading to Hail Al Jabal and Riyad Al Jabal Farm in Jabal Al Akhdar, the design and construction of the Aafari Pass between Samail and Izki, an asphalt road in Al Saqari village, the Wadi Bani Khalid Pass project in Wadi Bani Khalid, the Harweeb-Al Mazyouna-Mitan Road, the Mughsail Bridge project, the maintenance and rehabilitation of the Taqah-Madinat Al Haq Road, the Sayh Al Khairat-Shisr Road project, the Al Ma'moura-Taqah Road, and the improvement of the Anatokh Pass in Dhalkut, in addition to the construction of the coastal dirt road between Rakhyut and Dhalkut in Dhofar Governorate.
The second half of this year will witness the opening of sections of several ongoing road projects, including 6 kilometers of the Sohar Free Zone Link project; 30 kilometers of the design and construction of a road to Al Namaa Poultry Company in the Wilayat of Dhank; 6 kilometers of the rehabilitation of the Al Hazm-Al Rustaq road in the Wilayat of Al Rustaq; 12 kilometers of the remaining works on the dual carriageway project from the Gas Company Roundabout to the Bilad Sur Roundabout in the South Sharqiyah Governorate; 7 kilometers of the design and construction of the Sultan Taimur bin Faisal Road in the North and South Al Batinah Governorates; 10 kilometers of the dual carriageway project between Izki and Nizwa; and 28 kilometers of the remaining works on the Al Abila-Al Fayyad road project in the Al Buraimi Governorate.
Work begins
The Ministry is preparing to begin implementing several approved road projects within its plan for the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan.
In addition to completing the remaining work on the Sultan Said bin Taimur dual carriageway project between the Wilayats of Adam and Haima, which recently commenced.
Work to begin in 2026
Projects that will begin during the second half of this year include the first phase of the dual carriageway leading to the Empty Quarter in Al Dhahirah Governorate, the completion of the Sant-Wadi Al A'la road, the rehabilitation of several roads and the construction of box culverts in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, and the paving of roads leading to the villages of Al Aqdah, Shannah, and Sayh Jarin in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate.
MTCIT is proceeding with completing the procedures for awarding and starting the Sinaw-Mahout-Duqm road project, for the area located in the Al Wusta Governorate, for the road extending from Al Jubah roundabout in the Wilayat of Mahout to the borders of the Special Economic Zone in Duqm near Nafun, with a length of 132 kilometers, and completing the procedures for awarding and starting the implementation of the expansion of the Muscat Expressway.
Projects in Musandam
The Sultan Faisal bin Turki Road project, linking the wilayats of Dibba and Khasab with a connection to the Niabat of Lima, has exceeded 73% completion. It is considered one of the most vital projects in the Musandam Governorate, as it will enhance connectivity between the governorate and the rest of the Sultanate of Oman.
Sultan Said bin Taimur Road
Dr. Saif Al Sinani stated that work is underway to complete the Sultan Said bin Taimur Road, specifically the 400-kilometer section extending from the wilayat of Haima in the Al Wusta Governorate to the wilayat of Thumrait in the Dhofar Governorate. The remaining 37-kilometer section before Haima is also being finalized.
He emphasized that the project represents a strategic axis connecting the Dhofar Governorate with the rest of the Sultanate of Oman and will contribute to boosting tourism and logistics. Parts of the road are expected to open in the first half of next year, with the entire project scheduled for completion in the second half of 2028.
Projects in Dhofar
He said the Dhofar Governorate is witnessing the implementation of several important projects, including the dual carriageway project for the Raysut-Al Mughsail road (33 km), the Saih Al Khairat-Shisr road (46 km), and the Shisr-Bithna Al Hashman road (86 km). Other projects include paving the Harweeb-Al Mazyouna-Mitan road (210 km), paving roads in the Wilayat of Muqshin (170 km), improving the Shuwaymiyah mountain pass, and maintaining and rehabilitating several roads, including the Hafouf-Dalkut-Khadhrafi road, the Anatoukh pass, the dual carriageway for the Al Ma'moura-Taqah road, the rehabilitation of the Taqah-Madinat Al Haq road, and the construction of the coastal dirt road between Rakhyut and Dhalkut.
Projects in Muscat
He also mentioned that the Ministry has begun implementing the project to develop Al Mouj Street and November 18 Street in the Muscat Governorate to improve traffic flow and boost tourism and economic activity. The project includes widening the road to three lanes in each direction and converting roundabouts into intersections.
South Sharqiyah Governorate
Regarding projects in the South Sharqiyah Governorate, he stated that work is underway to complete the Sultan Turki bin Said Road project, specifically the section connecting the wilayats of Al Kamil, Al Wafi and Sur, spanning around 52 kilometers.
The actual completion rate has reached 91 percent, and it is expected to be finished, as previously mentioned, by the end of this year. The remaining work on the dual carriageway between the Gas Company Roundabout and the Bilad Sur Roundabout will also be completed.
North Sharqiyah Governorate
The North Sharqiyah Governorate is witnessing the implementation of several road projects, including the design and construction of the Wadi Bani Jabir Road, the completion of the Al Ismailiyah-Mahlah-Ghabra Al Tam Road project in the wilayat of Dima Wa Al Taiyyin, the construction of road connections in the wilayat of Al Qabil, and the recent completion of the paving project for the Al Aflaj Road in the wilayat of Al Mudhaibi.
Izki-Nizwa dual carriageway project
The Director General of Planning at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology stated that the completion rate for the Izki-Nizwa dual carriageway project, which extends for more than 30 kilometers, has reached 33 percent, and it is expected to be completed during 2029.
He also mentioned the implementation of the 32-kilometer Jebel Shams road project, a road branching off from Sultan Said bin Taimur Road in the Wilayat of Manah to the Oman Palm Development Company, as well as the rehabilitation of several damaged sections of Sultan Thuwaini bin Said Road, and the completion of several roads in the Wilayats of Jabal Akhdar and Samail.
Al Buraimi Governorate
He confirmed that work is ongoing in the Al Buraimi Governorate to complete the 42-kilometer Al Abila Al Fayyad road project. Additionally, a 70-kilometer asphalt road is being constructed to the Al Namaa Poultry Company in the Wilayat of Dhank in the Al Dhahirah Governorate, as part of projects supporting the food security system.
South al Batinah
He added that the Ministry is completing the first phase of the Sultan Taimur bin Faisal Road, linking the coastal towns of North and South Al Batinah Governorates, and implementing the dual carriageway project for the Barka Market link and the Al Suwaiq link. Construction of the Al Suwaiq Bridge is also underway, with parts of it scheduled to open in the second half of the year. Other projects include the rehabilitation of the Al Hazm-Al Rustaq Road, the construction of a link to Khazaen Economic City, and the repair of infrastructure damaged by tropical storms in Wadi Bani Awf and Wadi Al Sahtan.
North al Batinah
He noted that North Al Batinah Governorate is witnessing the implementation of several projects, most notably the Free Zone link and its associated service roads, the Liwa link, the construction of asphalt road links in Shinas, and the repair of several bridges on the Sohar-Al Buraimi Road.
Repair works
He noted that more than RO230 million has been allocated for periodic maintenance agreements, repairs, and upgrading roads affected by the weather conditions and climatic events that have impacted the Sultanate of Oman.