MUSCAT: The housing and urban planning sector in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate is witnessing continued development through the implementation of social housing projects, allocation of residential land, development of integrated residential neighbourhoods and expansion of digital services.
The initiatives are aimed at enhancing family stability, supporting organised urban growth and improving the quality of life across the governorate's wilayats.
Ali bin Said al Rujaibi, Director-General of Housing and Urban Planning in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate, said that the sector recorded significant activity during the first half of 2026, including the creation of 580 plots for various uses, the allocation of 455 residential plots and approval of 628 plots under the 'Plan Your Land' initiative.
He said the measures strengthen the governorate's readiness for urban expansion and help meet demand for residential land while taking into account population needs and future development requirements.
In the social housing sector, 152 housing assistance packages worth about RO 4.4 million were provided in 2025, while 124 assistance packages worth about RO 3.5 million were provided in 2026, as part of government efforts to provide suitable housing for eligible citizens and promote family and social stability.
Al Rujaibi said several social housing projects are being implemented across the governorate. Work is continuing on a project in Al Rahibat, Al Qabil, comprising 45 housing units, a mosque and a council at a cost of about RO 2.44 million.
A project comprising 49 housing units in Hail Al Kafuf, Dima W'attayeen, has been completed at a cost of about RO 2.43 million.
Work is also continuing on 24 housing units in Hail Al Qash, Dima W'attayeen, at an estimated cost of RO 1 million. Meanwhile, a project comprising 19 housing units in Buwad, Wadi Bani Khalid, has been completed at a cost of about RO 1.16 million. Work is also under way to complete a mosque in Hail Al Kafuf at an estimated cost of RO 185,000.
Al Rujaibi said the projects form part of the social housing system aimed at providing suitable homes for citizens and developing residential communities with integrated basic services and facilities.
The governorate is also continuing to implement the 'Surooh' projects, which seek to develop integrated urban communities with residential facilities, services and infrastructure.
The projects include Al Sumou neighbourhood in Al Mudhaibi, Al Ala neighbourhood in Bidiyah and Saih Al Rafie in Wadi Bani Khalid.
The Al Sumou project has a total cost of about RO 15 million, while the Al Ala neighbourhood project costs about RO 5 million. The projects are designed to create integrated residential communities connected to road networks, public services and facilities.
Al Rujaibi said the implementation of these projects is accompanied by expanded digital services, with more than 28 electronic services now available in urban planning. The services are intended to simplify procedures, speed up transactions, improve the experience of beneficiaries and enhance the efficiency of land management and urban planning.
He said legislative and regulatory developments in the housing and urban planning sector are also contributing to more efficient land management, greater use of geospatial data in decision-making, improved planning of population centres and better distribution of services and facilities.
The developments also support more efficient land use and integration between residential, economic and service activities.
Al Rujaibi noted that urban planning is closely linked to creating an environment conducive to economic and investment growth through the allocation of land for productive and service activities.
On protection against climatic risks, Al Rujaibi highlighted projects aimed at protecting population centres and infrastructure from flooding.
These include a flood-protection dam project in the Samad Al Shan area of Al Mudhaibi, which is designed to strengthen the ability of infrastructure to withstand heavy rainfall and wadi flows, protect residential areas and support sustainable urban development.
He said the projects and indicators reflect efforts to build a more integrated housing and urban planning system in Al Sharqiyah North by combining the provision of residential land and housing units with integrated neighbourhood development, digital transformation, regulation of land use and greater use of geographic data. - ONA
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