The picture: A village in Jebel Akhdar. The mountain region will be the site for one of Oman’s smart cities.
New cities planned for Muscat and Jebel Akhdar
Renewable energy to power both developments
Aligned with Oman’s 2050 net zero commitment
Oman has announced the development of two new smart cities as part of its national strategy to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable urban living.
The first city will be located in Jebel Akhdar, a mountainous area approximately 2,400 meters above sea level. Spanning 12,000 square meters, the site is designed to host up to 10,000 residents.
The second, Thuraya City, will be situated in Bawshar Heights in Muscat and will accommodate around 8,000 people. Both projects were unveiled on Monday at the opening of Design and Build Week, held at the Oman Conference and Exhibition Centre in Muscat.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the smart cities will be powered entirely by renewable energy sources, such as solar power, and form a central part of Oman’s broader efforts to promote a carbon-free environment.
These new initiatives complement several other large-scale urban projects across the country. Among them is the $2.6 billion Sultan Haitham City in Seeb, which will cover 14.8 million square meters and include 20,000 housing units spread across 19 districts.
In addition, Oman recently approved a $350 million residential city project in Dhofar Governorate, designed to house 60,000 residents.
Last week, the Oman Centre for Net Zero was launched to help the government achieve its ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2050.
“Net zero now applies not only to industrial operations but also to urban living. This shift will make Oman more attractive to foreign property investors,” said Naifeen Al Bahrani, director of Jumaana Travels, in remarks to AGBI.
Source: agbi.com
