Duqm launches design competition for trees park

DUQM: The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) and Tatweer Duqm have launched a design competition for the “10,000 Trees Park”, inviting students from engineering colleges to submit innovative concepts for a sustainable tourism and recreational destination serving families, children and visitors to the zone.
Organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and OQ8’s Duqm Refinery, the competition seeks to harness students’ engineering knowledge and skills to develop designs for an integrated park spanning approximately 400,000 square metres within SEZAD.
The initiative aims to engage young talent in developing a distinctive environmental and urban project that combines the expansion of green spaces with the creation of attractive public areas. It also seeks to strengthen links between academic institutions and the development projects under way in Duqm.
Abdullah bin Ali Al Alawi, Head of the Afforestation Section at SEZAD, said the competition represents a practical step towards harnessing the creativity and innovative ideas of young people to develop a project that adds environmental and social value to Duqm’s urban landscape.
He added that the project would contribute to creating a sustainable public destination that brings together recreation, tourism and quality of life.
Al Alawi explained that inviting engineering students to participate is intended to translate academic knowledge into design concepts with the potential for further development and implementation. The proposed designs are expected to take into account the site’s characteristics, climatic conditions and efficient use of resources, while presenting innovative solutions that support the project’s long-term sustainability and attractiveness.
He further noted that the park is expected to constitute a valuable addition to public amenities at SEZAD, serving both the local community and visitors amid the zone’s rapid economic, investment and urban growth.

For his part, Mohammed bin Hamoud Al Batashi, Survey Engineer at Tatweer Duqm, said the competition provides engineering students with an opportunity to engage with a large-scale, real-world project and apply their academic knowledge by developing concepts that respond to the site’s physical and topographical characteristics while optimising the use of available space.
He added that preparing an integrated design for the park requires a carefully considered balance between green spaces, facilities, circulation routes, seating areas and recreational zones to ensure accessibility, functional integration and sustainability.
Al Batashi pointed out that the submitted designs would provide a range of engineering and urban-planning concepts that could inform the development of the project’s final vision. He stressed the importance of proposals combining innovation, clarity and development potential while responding to Duqm’s characteristics and the needs of future park users.
The submitted designs are expected to contribute to shaping an integrated vision for the park, making optimal use of its total area and providing a suitable environment for family and recreational activities while preserving the site’s natural identity and strengthening sustainability throughout its planning.
Registration is open to students from engineering colleges from 30 August to 10 September through the competition’s designated online form.
The competition reflects the commitment of SEZAD and Tatweer Duqm to integrating environmental and social considerations into the development process and strengthening partnerships with educational institutions and the industrial sector. It also supports the development of sustainable projects that enhance Duqm’s urban environment and quality of life.