Oman signs deal for Malakai project in Barka

BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, OCT 20
Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has signed an agreement with Al-Mursal Trading and Investment LLC to develop an integrated tourism complex in Barka, combining a luxury resort and freehold villas on an approximately 800,000-square-metre site.
The Malakai project, in South Al Batinah Governorate, will be developed in phases and incorporate hospitality, leisure and residential facilities within an agricultural setting.
The agreement was signed by Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, and Kirvi Pankaj Khimji, representing Al-Mursal Trading and Investment.
The planned resort will comprise 51 accommodation units, ranging from individual rooms to three-bedroom suites, alongside a gym, spa facilities and outdoor lounges. The development will also include 51 residential villas available for freehold ownership.
Its design draws on traditional Omani walled gardens and the agricultural landscape of the coastal plains, incorporating palm groves and water features. The development is intended to preserve the site’s geographical and cultural character while offering accommodation focused on privacy and personalised services.
The ministry said the project would support efforts to attract foreign investment and expand Oman’s luxury and wellness tourism offering.
It is also expected to create direct and indirect jobs, generate business for local suppliers and increase tourism’s contribution to gross domestic product, supporting the economic diversification objectives of Oman Vision 2040.