Sultan Haitham City in Oman Signs 30 New Partnership and Development Agreements

Under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Oman’s Sultan Haitham City initiates its first phase with 30 signed development agreements, representing a total contract value of £2.58bn.

Spanning 1,480 hectares to the West of Greater Muscat, the city is forecast to house 100,000 residents, with the first phase accommodating 39,000 people in over 7,000 residential units across 6 million sqm. Set for completion in 2030, the project brings together a diverse team of developers, consultants, and designers to commence work.

Masterplanned by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the smart city is designed around the fundamental design principles of inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability. In addition to civic and social infrastructure, key development features include a 1.67m sqm central park along with the wadi (valley), a university precinct, a new National Centre for Women and Children’s Health, a Rehabilitation Center for People with Special Needs, and dedicated commercial areas for retail, life sciences, sports, logistics and manufacturing.

Eight residential neighborhoods will be developed over six years as part of the agreements signed with local and international real estate developers. AUDI will provide electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city and offer resident discounts through a technical cooperation agreement with Al Mutamayza Motors Company. Other international consultants, including Altavia, Panther Hudspith Architects and Kohler Architects are contracted to work on the city’s commercial projects, schools, universities, and medical centres.

Several other projects have been approved, including the Khawair Downtown project in the heart of Muscat by Zaha Hadid Architects and CBRE, and an agricultural city in the Al Najd region by Dar Al Handasah Consultants and Foster + Partners.

The delivery of Sultan Haitham City aligns with the Oman Vision 2040, which was created to achieve a sustainable, developed and diversified Omani national economy. Sustainable urban development is essential to the strategy, which prioritises social and environmental wellbeing with fair distribution of development gains and protection of natural resources.

The city will be the first project realised within the Oman National Spacial Strategies (ONSS), which guides the implementation of the Vision. Further ONSS projects within Oman’s $33bn pipeline of planned sustainable urban development for thriving communities are due to be announced over the coming weeks and months.

H.E. Dr Khalfan bin Saeed al Shuaili, MoHUP, said: “These agreements mark a pivotal milestone in the pioneering urban development across Oman. They are poised to establish new benchmarks for sustainability, architectural distinction, and community-centric urban development. The inception of Sultan Haitham City heralds the initial phase of a profound vision for constructing sustainable cities that resonate with the contemporary lifestyle aspirations of the youth, underscoring our commitment to embracing innovative construction methodologies, envisioning future paradigms, and leveraging global, regional, and local expertise and knowledge.”