The Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) has awarded two major consultancy contracts for the first phase of its ambitious $1.3 billion Mina Al Sultan Qaboos Waterfront project in Muscat, according to a post on the company’s website.
HD23, a joint venture between Nadia Al Lawati, an Omani architect and owner of 23 Degrees North and Harper Downie, has been named lead consultant and master planner for the project
The mega waterfront project will be developed in over four separate phases according to top officials of Omran at a recent launch ceremony of the project. Phase one of the integrated mixed-use waterfront destination, set to be developed at a cost of $390 million, will transform the current commercial Port Sultan Qaboos area into a major tourism-based development, spanning a 64-hectare area, when completed by 2020, the report continued.
It will include business and residential zones, a destination mall, six hotels, recreation amenities, tourist attractions, as well as docking facilities for cruise liners and yachts.
Omran CEO James Wilson indicated that the architectural designs would focus on providing low energy, sustainable solutions and take inspiration from the rich architectural and cultural traditions of the Sultanate of Oman.
