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Sultan Haitham City

Muscat, Oman

2023 - Ongoing

Mixed UseNew CityUrban ExpansionUrban Park

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Project Description

Approach Words: Smart City, Sustainability, Urban Livability

Public Policy Instruments: Communicative, Organization, Physical Intervention, Planning, Regulatory

Sultan Haitham City is a new¹ smart city² project and part of the Oman Vision 2040ⁱ. The project entails urban expansion³ of the capital city of Muscat and includes mixed-use⁴ developments⁵. The vision of the Sultan Haitham Project is “Treasure the Future”⁶, which aims to keep pace with regional and global changes⁷. This will help raise the standard of living⁸, promote economic growth⁹, and foster urban resilience¹⁰, subsequently promoting a welcoming future for the country’s expanding local, foreign, and tourist population¹¹.

To carry out the vision of the project, a master plan¹² was proposed on an area measuring 14.8 square kilometers¹³ in a ‘largely undeveloped’ site in Al-Seeb, several kilometers west of Muscat¹⁴. The master plan will accommodate 100,000 residents and offer 20,000 residential units¹⁵ of different typologies. Additionally, it will offer a wide range of facilities such as 19 integrated neighborhoods, 39 schools, and 11 health facilities, 25 mosques, central park and a boulevard¹⁶. The master plan is accompanied by a regulatory framework that enhances urban design¹⁷.

Title: Rendered aerial view of the proposed Sultan Haitham City paster plan.

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Title: 2D top view of the proposed Sultan Haitham City master plan.

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Title: 3D rendering of the planned Sultan Haitham City project.

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Title: 3D render shows the social spaces in Sultan Haitham City.

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Title: Rendered aerial view of the proposed Sultan Haitham City paster plan.

Source: Click Here

Title: 2D top view of the proposed Sultan Haitham City master plan.

Source: Click Here

Title: 3D rendering of the planned Sultan Haitham City project.

Source: Click Here

Title: 3D render shows the social spaces in Sultan Haitham City.

Source: Click Here

Additionally, a 7.5-kilometer dry river (wadi) will be converted into a public green park as part of the master plan’s approach to address the effects of climate change. This park will retain water during seasonal flood events in the region, thereby reducing the risk of flooding¹⁸. It also uses solar energy and wastewater treatment systems to create sustainable public spaces.

The master plan is designed to foster a sense of community and encourage socialization across different segments of society. It does this through the development of shared public spaces and by planning neighborhoods that facilitate pedestrian access to public amenities¹⁹. Additionally, the city will incorporate a number of smart²⁰ initiatives such as the use of advanced traffic management systems and deployable smart technologies, which will improve mobility and reduce congestion²¹. The Oman Arab Bank has also signed an agreement with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to provide competitive rates for housing loans for the first 100 homeowners in the new city²². All of these factors help create a vibrant economy, enhancing the city’s competitiveness²³ and generating interest from various international investors²⁴.

Owner/Developer (Public)

Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning ³²

Consultant/Designer

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)³³

Funder

Oman Investment Authority ³⁴

Contractor/Implementer

Nama Group ³⁵

Owner/Developer (Public)

Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning ³²

Contractor/Implementer

Nama Group ³⁵

Funder

Oman Investment Authority ³⁴

Consultant/Designer

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)³³

The project is initiated by Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning²⁵. The master plan has been developed by consultants Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)²⁶ and Nama Group as the principle contractor responsible for infrastructure services at the first phase of the city²⁷. The project is part of a $5.2 billion public investment fund called the Oman Future Fund²⁸. It will be implemented under four phases²⁹ ³⁰:

First Phase [2024-2030]: This phase includes the development 6,743 housing units, a private hospital, a fuel filling station, 4 schools, and 19 plots earmarked for offices.
Second Phase [2028-2035]: Development over an area of 2.6 million square meters accommodating over 23,000 people and 4,200 housing units.
Third Phase [2033-2040]: Development over an area of 2.3 million square meters containing 3,500 housing units with the capacity to accommodate over 21,000 people.
Fourth phase [2038-2045]: Development over an area of 5.5 million square meters with a capacity to accommodate more than 26,000 people in 4,500 housing units³¹.

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sultanhaithamc/?trk=public_post_main-feed-card_reshare-text

Endnotes

ⁱOman Vision 2040 is a state-led initiative aimed at among other things increasing the use of renewables and reducing the country’s dependence on oil, which currently accounts for more than half of government revenues. More information about the project is available in this link: https://www.mof.gov.om/pdf/Vision_Documents_En.pdf(accessed on 03 December 2023)

References