Agreements worth over RO1 billion signed at Urban October 2026

The Urban, Home and Building Exhibition and Conference and World Habitat Day 2026 commenced today at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, as part of the “Urban October” events organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme “UN-Habitat”, and will continue for 4 days.

The opening ceremony witnessed the signing of 20 partnership, development and tendering agreements for residential, service and tourism projects in a number of projects, and the total investment value of the signed projects amounted to more than one billion Omani riyals.

These agreements include 3 in Sultan Haitham City, 3 in Al Thuraya City, 8 agreements within the Sorouh residential neighborhoods and schemes projects, a development agreement in Khazaen City, 3 agreements for the development of an integrated tourist complex between the Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Tourism, the Oman Tourism Development Company “Omran Group”, Masa Al Qurm Development Company and Al Bandar Development Company, 2 agreements in the Kumzar residential scheme with Al Saeq Company and an Omani-Turkish memorandum of understanding.

The opening ceremony, held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Abdul Malik bin Abdullah Al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council, included the celebration of World Habitat Day under the theme “Adequate Housing for All,” with the participation of Anna Claudia Rosbach, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and officials and specialists in housing and urban planning from a number of countries.

The exhibition and conference brings together developers, investors, experts and decision-makers to discuss the provision of suitable housing, the development of fast-growing cities, and the building of integrated communities that respond to the needs of different groups, in addition to reviewing projects and investment opportunities and exchanging international experiences in urban development.

The opening ceremony included the presentation of the UN-Habitat Register of Honour Award, the signing of development agreements and tender awarding, followed by the opening of the exhibition and a tour of its pavilions to view the projects and services on display.

In the Sultan Haitham City projects, the tender for the construction work of the rehabilitation complex for people with disabilities and the elderly care home building was awarded, with an investment value exceeding RO12 million, on a land area of ​​10,300 square meters, and with a building area of ​​28,000 square meters.

The tender for Package No. 22 works to divert the course of the valley in Sultan Haitham City along the eastern borders of Al Baraka Palace was also awarded, with an investment value exceeding 14 million Omani riyals, and a community contribution agreement was signed with Aflaj Group to implement a sports and health trail in the city.

In Al Thuraya City, the tender for consultancy services to prepare the detailed plan for the third phase was awarded to BIG, which won the global competition to design the phase, with a value of RO4.5 million.

A partnership and development agreement was also signed with “Zawaya Group” for District No. “5C”, with an investment value of RO45 million. The project includes 220 residential units on a land area of ​​72,398 square meters, with a building area of ​​49,870 square meters.

A partnership and development agreement was signed with Al Namaa Real Estate Company for the “5A” and “5B” neighborhoods in Al Thuraya City, with an investment value of RO55 million, totaling 265 residential units, on a land area of ​​105,406 square meters, with a building area of ​​65,766 square meters.

In the Musandam Governorate, the tenders for the construction of a government school and a health center in the Kumzar residential scheme were awarded to Al-Sa’iq Company, with a total investment value of 5 million Omani riyals. An agreement was also signed to develop an integrated residential neighborhood in Khazaen Economic City with Mada Group, with an investment value of 50 million Omani riyals.

In the integrated tourism projects, an agreement was signed to develop the waterfront project of Sultan Qaboos Port with the Oman Tourism Development Company “Omran Group”, and an agreement to develop the Al Bandar project with Al Bandar Development Company, for the Al Bandar project. A usufruct contract and an agreement to develop the “Yankat Hills” project, one of the integrated tourism complexes projects, were also signed.

In the “Surooh” integrated residential neighborhoods and schemes projects, eight agreements were signed to develop residential projects in a number of governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, with a total investment value of RO186.64 million, to provide 2,443 residential units on a total area of ​​1,741,290 square meters.

The agreements included the development of a project in Al-Sayh Al-Ahmar in the state of Bidbid, with an investment value of RO20.86 million, on an area of ​​191,169 square meters, and comprising 355 residential units.

An agreement was also signed to develop a project in Wehe Al Murr in the Wilayat of Bahla, with an investment value of RO13.32 million, on an area of ​​151,600 square meters, and comprising 175 residential units. An agreement was also signed to develop a project in Raddat Al Busaid in the state of Nizwa, with an investment value of RO28.83 million, on an area of ​​194,296 square meters, and it includes 214 residential units.

An agreement was signed to develop a project in Al Khadra Al Jadida in Al Buraimi Governorate, with an investment value of RO12.04 million, on an area of ​​58,250 square meters, and it includes 97 residential units. An agreement was also signed to develop a project in Al Amjad neighborhood in the state of Rustaq, with an investment value of RO2.75 million, on an area of ​​223,797 square meters, and it includes 271 residential units.

The agreements included the signing of a project development agreement in Al-Rifa’a neighbourhood in the state of Sohar, with an investment value of RO4.85 million, on an area of ​​325,869 square meters, and comprising 321 residential units. An agreement was also signed to develop a project in Falaj Al Sham in the state of Bousher, with an investment value of RO57 million, on an area of ​​281,346 square meters, and comprising 430 residential units. An agreement was also signed to develop a project in the state of Taqah, with an investment value of 47 million Omani riyals, on an area of ​​314,963 square meters, and comprising 580 residential units.

The ceremony concluded with the signing of an Omani-Turkish memorandum of understanding in the field of housing and urban planning between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Turkey, represented by the Ministry of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change.

The first day’s program included a ministerial session with the participation of officials from the Sultanate of Oman, Arab countries, Turkey and Pakistan, and a main dialogue entitled “Adequate Housing for All.” On the second day, the theme of “Emerging and Rapidly Growing Cities” will be discussed, to explore the transformation of urban plans and visions into reality, and the experiences of winners of the UN-Habitat Register of Honour Award. It will also address the development of light rail stations in Muscat, and the role of public spaces and urban renewal in the prosperity of cities.

The third day will be dedicated to reviewing the theme “Cities that meet everyone’s needs,” to review the structural plans for Ibri, Salalah, Muscat, Sur, Rustaq and Nizwa, and to discuss spatial integration to enhance productivity, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Khazaen Economic City and the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, in addition to a dialogue on the experience of ownership and settlement in the Sultanate of Oman, and the investment forum “Creating Value in the Homeland.”

On the fourth day of the conference, the theme “Housing Beyond Just Housing” will be reviewed through sessions discussing the future of housing in the Sultanate of Oman, designing inclusive environments for all, and building integrated, interconnected and livable communities, with the participation of specialists in housing, social development, research, innovation, planning and urban design.

The exhibition includes more than 200 exhibitors, with the participation of 50 countries and more than 65 real estate developers. The event also includes more than 100 urban planning experts and more than 20 small and medium enterprises, allowing visitors to view development projects, housing options, and ownership and investment opportunities.

The partnership with UN-Habitat and hosting the celebration of World Habitat Day stand out among the features of this edition, along with combining a discussion of international policies and experiences with a review of projects and contracts related to housing, services, tourism and urban development.