RO 904,000 deal sets 2028 target for Habroot homes

A contract worth more than RO 904,000 has been signed to build 21 homes for eligible families in Habroot, a remote community in Dhofar near Oman’s border with Yemen, with handover scheduled for late 2028.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday, puts a construction timetable and contract value behind a housing commitment announced earlier this month. The project in the Habroot Triangle area of Al Mazyunah is funded by Rikan, the Energy Sector Social Responsibility Development Foundation, in partnership with the Oman Charity Organisation (OCO) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.
Eng Khalfan bin Masoud al Naabi, Director-General of Housing and Urban Planning in Dhofar, signed for the ministry, while Eng Mohammed bin Ali al Shanfari, Rikan’s Manager of Project Execution, signed for the foundation.
The project has a 730-day implementation period. Each home will have 199 square metres of built-up space, including three bedrooms, a majlis (reception room), living room, kitchen and service facilities, as well as a separate perimeter wall.
The contract value averages about RO 43,054 per home, although this is a calculation based on the total agreement rather than a separately disclosed price for each unit. Construction has been assigned to Omran Construction and Works, with Hima Engineering Consultancy appointed to oversee the work.
The latest signing follows an October 7 agreement backed by more than RO 2 million from Rikan for a wider programme comprising the 21 homes in Habroot and 50 further housing-assistance cases in other governorates. The new contract concerns the previously announced Habroot units, not an additional allocation.
Saeed bin Amer al Harasi, Head of the Housing Programmes Monitoring and Community Partnership Section at the ministry, said the initiative followed a study of villages across Oman, particularly remote communities needing housing support. The assessment examined families’ living conditions and their eligibility for assistance.
Ahmed bin Said al Maashani, Director of Housing at the ministry’s Dhofar directorate, said field visits had identified housing needs in Habroot. The homes were intended to provide suitable accommodation and improve residential stability in the border community, he said.
Al Shanfari said Rikan’s financing formed part of the energy sector’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve living conditions for eligible families.
Under the cooperation agreement, Rikan provides the funding, the ministry identifies sites, prepares designs and oversees technical work, while OCO assesses applicants and verifies their eligibility. A Rikan-led steering committee will receive quarterly reports on construction progress and project finances.
Habroot has also seen separate investment in access and education. A 10-kilometre link between Andat and Habroot opened in September as part of the Harweeb–Mitn road project, while the foundation stone for a new school backed by Petroleum Development Oman was laid on October 27.
The number of households still awaiting housing assistance in Habroot has not been disclosed, nor has it been specified whether the contract covers external electricity, water and road connections.