Barka Marina project to include tourism, water sports components

Conrad Prabhu -
Muscat, JAN 29 -
A lavish waterfront development integrated with the Barka fishery harbour in South Al Batinah Governorate will serve as a new landmark for shopping, entertainment, leisure and hospitality, according to the project’s promoters.
Falcon Tourism Investment Company, a subsidiary of prominent Omani investor and developer Al Siyabi Group, is setting up the Barka Marina Development at an estimated cost of $130 million. It follows a long-term lease agreement signed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for the development of a mixed use property based on soon-to-be-unveiled Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model championed by the Omani government.
As part of its obligations under the lease agreement, the master-developer Falcon Tourism Investment Company has committed to the construction of a full-fledged, modern fish market complex, complete with support facilities, that will be integrated with the marina development.
Importantly, the project will also exploit its waterfront location to offer adventure watersports and boat racing activities, in addition to a 4-star luxury resort and serviced apartments, according to Cenk Yonar, Business Development Director at Al Siyabi.
“The Barka Marina Development will be a pedestrian-friendly mixed use urban development which we believe will serve as a brand new, sophisticated and stylish face of Barka,” said Yonar. “With its ecofriendly fish market complex, Barka Marina Development has been designed as an entertainment and shopping island, that opens up various possibilities for locals, tourists and investors.”
Speaking at an investment forum held in the city last week, Yonar said construction work on the sprawling complex, covering a harbour area of 1.3 million square metres and a shorefront area of 114,000 sq metres, commenced late last year. When completed in stages over the next four years, Barka Marina Development will feature a total built-up area of over 100,000 sq metres and will be home to around 450 tenants.
Phase 1 of the development, centring on the Fish Market Complex, will be brought into operation before the end of this year, he said. The commercial buildings, including the shopping mall, hypermarket and cinema complex, will be opened by November 2021. Envisioned in Phase 3 are a 200-key, 4-star resort alongside a complex of 144 serviced apartments and over 200 two and three-bedroom apartments — all slated for launch by November 2023.
Conceived as a one-stop, integrated leisure destination, the Barka Marina project will also include a traditional souq, ballroom, family entertainment centre, marina with private beach, chalets, and water sports centre specialising in water and multimedia shows.
The employment generation potential of the project is estimated at 2,000 jobs, Yonar added.