MUSCAT: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MHUP) officially unveiled on Sunday, February 4, 2024, its "Determination to Implement" campaign for Sultan Haitham City, marking a significant step forward in the development of this ambitious project.
The campaign launch, attended by media representatives, included a comprehensive visual presentation showcasing the city's master plan and construction progress, followed by a field visit to the site.
This strategic initiative aims to highlight the achievements made thus far and foster close collaboration between stakeholders to ensure the project's timely completion. Located in Muscat Governorate, Sultan Haitham City is envisioned as a modern and sustainable urban center catering to diverse community needs and contributing to economic diversification.
The "Determination to Implement" campaign underscores the government's commitment to realizing Sultan Haitham City's potential. This project is poised to be a cornerstone of Oman's urban development, attracting investment, creating jobs, and fostering a vibrant new community for its residents. Adhering to global standards, the city's infrastructure is designed for flexibility and adaptability to accommodate future population growth, efficient operation of facilities, and ease of access.
Preliminary works underway
Sultan Haitham City is being developed on an area of more than 14 million m2, with sustainable urban planning based on exploiting green spaces that take up an area of approximately 3 million square meters, to accommodate 100,000 people, with an average of diverse 20,000 housing units and full-service facilities.
The first phase development of Sultan Haitham City commenced recently with local contractor Strabag Oman LCC having been signed up to prepare the road infrastructure, the valley (wadi) stream, and the area surrounding the central park.
Several other contracts have also been signed in recent weeks and months. They include a partnership and cooperation agreement to implement the works related to the water supply project in the city. Earlier in June 2023, a total of 21 development and partnership agreements were signed for the first phase with a number of government institutions and the private sector, including areas of partnership, government cooperation, real estate development, finance, services and infrastructure. The value of these agreements exceed RO 1 billion.
Civic landmarks
The first phase (2024-2030) will start in the city on an area of about 6 million square meters, to accommodate more than 39,000 people in more than 7 thousand housing units on building area of more than 3 million square meters. This phase takes account of the construction of many basic facilities and centers including:
• The Central Park and the wadi on an area of more than 1 million square meters,
• National Centre for Women and Children's Health,
• Reference hospital on an area exceeding 666,000 m2 which accommodates 1,200 beds,
• College of Advanced Technology which seats 1,500 students and covers an area of more than 14,000 square meters,
• Youth Center on an area of 20,000 square meters,
• Rehabilitation Center on an area of more than 10,000 square meters,
• Cultural Center on an area of more than 4,000 square meters,
• School Complexes that seats 6,900 students on an area of more than 135 square meters,
• Four Health Centers on an area of more than 63,000 square meters,
• Mosque on an area of more than 65,000 square meters, in addition to
• Oman Medical Specialty Board, the Higher Institute of Health Specialties, and Oman College of Health Sciences.
The Ministry is working with its partners to sign a number of agreements in this aspect during the coming period, in preparation for the implementation of construction works for main roads, infrastructure, service buildings, the central park and residential neighborhoods, including water, sanitation, electricity, broadband, roads and green spaces services, according to the city’s executive plan. Four residential neighborhoods (6, 9, 10 and 8) are being implemented in the first phase with real estate developers, along with parts of other two neighborhoods (12 & 13).
Affordable neighbourhoods
Importantly, the Ministry sought to make the housing units of the city’s neighbourhoods affordable to everyone by signing partnership and development agreements for the first phase of the city with 8 banks that offer a 3.5% discounted rate financing programs. The financing ceiling with the Oman Housing Bank was raised to RO 80,000, and 5% of the units were allocated to the residential housing assistance program for those eligible for government residential land grants at a government-subsidized price. Non-Omanis and investors can also own property in the city according to the terms and conditions.
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