Oman Embarks on Ambitious City Building Spree Without Skyscrapers
Oman, a nation celebrated for its breathtaking natural beauty, is investing £4 billion in an ambitious project to construct entirely new cities. Notably, these urban developments will distinguish themselves by intentionally excluding skyscrapers, a common architectural feature in many expanding cities.
Rejecting the Skyscraper Trend
While towering skyscrapers have become synonymous with modern mega-cities, lending an air of grandeur to urban centers, Oman is choosing a different path. The Sultanate has launched a forward-thinking initiative, “Oman Vision 2040,” aimed at strategically overhauling its economy and society, with a significant focus on carefully planned urban expansion.
Muscat, Oman’s capital, stands in stark contrast to cities like Dubai, renowned for their soaring skyscrapers. Instead, Muscat is characterized by its low-rise architectural style, deeply rooted in its rich historical past. Despite being a high-income country, Oman currently relies on dwindling oil resources for 84% of its revenue. Oman Vision 2040 underscores urban development as a key priority, setting its sights on creating sustainable and intelligent cities for the future.
New Cities to Drive Diversification and Growth
A cornerstone of this vision is the development of entirely new cities, including Sultan Haitham City and New City Salalah. These projects are strategically designed to diversify Oman’s economic base, attract increased investment, and significantly improve the quality of life for Omani residents.
Sultan Haitham City: A Model for Future Living
Sultan Haitham City represents the inaugural undertaking within a broader program spearheaded by Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. This new city is planned to eventually house up to 100,000 residents, establishing a substantial new community.
Envisioned as a premier residential destination on the outskirts of Muscat, the construction of Sultan Haitham City is currently Oman’s flagship megaproject. The overarching goal is the creation of a futuristic, modern, and sustainable urban center, developed in four distinct phases. The first phase is projected to reach completion by 2030. The city will be situated on a 1,480-hectare site of undeveloped land in Al Seeb, a suburb of the greater Muscat metropolitan area.
Prioritizing Community and Modernization
Oman boasts an exceptionally high rate of homeownership, with 89% of citizens owning their homes. However, many of these residences are located in sparsely populated, low-density areas, and the process for obtaining government-issued land grants can often be prolonged.
Sultan Haitham City is specifically designed to address these challenges by promoting compact, well-designed neighborhoods. Crucially, it aims to achieve this while respecting the strong Omani preference for private villas, blending tradition with modern urban planning.
While Oman’s economy has historically been anchored by oil revenues for the last half-century, the nation’s forward-looking vision seeks to pivot towards a more diversified future. A key strategy involves attracting both national businesses and large-scale infrastructure projects, positioning Oman as a vital regional transportation hub.
In parallel with urban development, Oman is undertaking a comprehensive reform of its educational programs. The focus is being shifted to cultivate creativity, enhance problem-solving capabilities, and integrate modern technology into the curriculum. Furthermore, Oman is committed to governmental restructuring and the implementation of enhanced resource management strategies to support its ambitious national vision.