USCAT -The French Architecture Tour Oman 2025 officially kicked recently in Muscat, bringing together a delegation of 15 leading French companies in architecture, engineering, and construction. Organized by Business France, with the support of the French Embassy in the sultanate of Oman, and in partnership with AFEX (French Architects for Export), the 2-day mission highlights France’s commitment to supporting Oman’s urban development agenda.
Dr. Khalfan bin Saeed al Shuaili, Minister of Housing & Urban Planning of Oman, Hashil Obaid al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group, attended the session alongside the French Ambassador to Oman.
“This mission demonstrates the depth of the French architectural offering and the willingness of our companies to contribute to Oman’s urban ambitions. France and Oman share a vision of sustainable and inclusive development, fully in line with Oman Vision 2040, and I am confident that this business delegation will pave the way to fruitful collaborations,” the ambassador said.
The agenda featured a panel discussion on the local market and French offerings, followed by B2B meetings with Omani key players.
Oman’s growing urban and construction market
Oman’s construction market is valued at USD 6.82 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 8.02 billion by 2029, growing at an average annual rate of 3.30% over the period (Mordor Intelligence, 2024). This growth is driven by an influx of investments and government initiatives aimed at stimulating large-scale projects in infrastructure, housing, tourism, and culture.
Projects such as the Oman Cultural Complex, new urban districts, and waterfront redevelopments reflect the Sultanate’s ambition to diversify its economy and create sustainable, inclusive urban environments.
French expertise: tradition, innovation, and human-centric design
French architecture is internationally recognized for its balance between tradition and innovation, sustainability and quality that resonate with Oman’s urban ambitions. From world-class museums, like the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi, to forward-looking master plans, French architects and engineers deliver projects that combine creativity, technical rigor, and contextual sensitivity.
This year’s delegation, brought together in partnership with AFEX, is bringing expertise and solutions that directly address Oman’s priorities. With 120 architectural firms as part of its network, AFEX is dedicated to promoting French expertise abroad and building bridges with international partners.
"AFEX is proud to support the French Architecture Tour 2025. French architects have long demonstrated their ability to blend creativity with technical excellence, and Oman provides an inspiring ground for dialogue and collaboration. Our members are committed to building sustainable, human-centric cities that respond to the challenges of tomorrow," said Madeleine Houbart, Secretary General of AFEX.
Among the delegation are leading architectural studios such as PCA-Stream, renowned for projects from interiors to major urban schemes and its study to reimagine the Champs-Élysées; Etienne Tricaud Architecture, known for culturally rooted urban design and large-scale planning; AW², an award-winning multidisciplinary studio behind landmark projects like the Banyan Tree AlUla in Saudi Arabia; Terrell, a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy that has contributed to Villa Hegra in AlUla and the Hatta Summit in Dubai; and Architecturestudio, whose portfolio includes the Amman Rotana Hotel, the National Theatre of Bahrain, and a mixed-use tower in Beirut.
Other distinguished firms demonstrate the depth of French innovation: AIA Life Designers, Atelier Joan Gaudin, Axel Schoenert Architectes, Franklin Azzi Architecture, PPX Architects, and Ubique Groupe bring expertise in sustainable architecture, urban planning, and complex rehabilitations, while AC&T Paysages & Territoires extends the tradition of French landscape design to international projects. Completing the delegation, Alphi and Echame provide cutting-edge industrial solutions ranging from formwork and shoring systems to acoustic partitions, cladding, and last FlexLedLight delivering bespoke architectural lighting through their trusted partner in the UAE, Option 1 World.
