SALALAH: Work on the remaining sections of the Sultan Said bin Taimur Road dualisation project between Haima and Thumrait has reached about 24 per cent, with contractors continuing construction while supporting maintenance of the existing route and testing advanced paving technologies.
Eng Khamis bin Mohammed al Shammakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Transport, said implementation of the project was progressing well within the planned three-year construction schedule.
Speaking to Oman TV, Al Shammakhi said the presence of contractors, machinery and technical teams along the road corridor has also strengthened the ministry’s ability to carry out maintenance and repairs on the existing route whenever required.
The ongoing maintenance support is important as the current road remains operational throughout the construction period, continuing to serve residents, tourists, buses, commercial vehicles and freight traffic travelling between Dhofar Governorate and other parts of Oman.
The project covers the final three sections of the dual carriageway between Haima and Thumrait, extending for a combined distance of around 400 kilometres, with contracts valued at more than RO 258 million.
The agreements were signed in May 2025, with each section scheduled for completion within 36 months.
Section Three covers 132.5 kilometres between Haima and Maqshan. Section Four extends approximately 135 kilometres from Maqshan through Qitbit to Dawkah, while Section Five covers around 132.5 kilometres between Dawkah and Thumrait.
Once completed, the project will extend the dual carriageway southwards from Haima to Thumrait, creating a continuous modern road connection to Salalah and improving accessibility to Dhofar.
The route plays a particularly important role during the khareef season, when thousands of visitors from across Oman and neighbouring Gulf countries travel by road to experience Dhofar’s monsoon season.
Beyond tourism, the corridor serves as a vital economic link throughout the year, supporting the movement of food supplies, consumer goods, construction materials and commercial freight. It also facilitates transport activities connected to the Port of Salalah and businesses operating across Dhofar.
Al Shammakhi said the ministry is also testing advanced construction solutions as part of the project, including artificial intelligence-assisted autonomous asphalt paving technology.
The technology was introduced on Section Four in May and is currently being evaluated under actual construction conditions.
The AI-powered system uses digitally controlled paving equipment designed to improve coordination between machinery, enhance paving accuracy and reduce direct human involvement in certain operational areas.
The ministry has described the initiative as the first application of AI-based autonomous asphalt paving technology in Oman’s roads and infrastructure sector.
In addition to dual carriageway construction, the project includes supporting infrastructure such as intersections, drainage systems, rest areas, public parking facilities, emergency openings and road safety installations.
The development builds on the completion of around 317 kilometres of dual carriageway between Adam and Haima, further strengthening Oman’s north-south transport network.
The latest progress update places the Haima–Thumrait sections in the early stages of implementation, with work advancing towards closing the remaining gap in the country’s main dualised corridor.
Upon completion, the project is expected to enhance road safety, increase capacity, improve travel efficiency and provide a more reliable connection between Dhofar and central and northern Oman.
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