Proposed Musandam Airport to enter the bidding stage
Muscat: The final design of the proposed Mussandam airport has been completed and a strategy is being prepared to start the tendering process.
It was revealed by Sayyid Ibrahim bin Saeed bin Ibrahim Al Busaidi, the governor of Musandam.
Governor of Musandam during the recently held dialogue on the development of the governorates, which also included North al Batinah, South al Batinah, Al Dakhiliyah, and Musandam.
It may be noted that Governors are accorded more powers following the issuance of the Governorates System in 2022.
It was also revealed that the Dibba Lima-Khasab road is 40 percent complete and is progressing well as per the timeline.
Among other key projects across governorates, the Jebel Shams Grand Canyon is a omprehensive development with the participation of the community participated and consultancy studies have begun for its infrastructure.
Work is underway on the dual carriageway between Farq and Izki while streetlight work will be completed on the Al Batinah Expressway before the end of the year.
A study is underway to divert trucks on the road linking North and South Al Batinah Governorates, without affecting economic activity.
As per earlier reports, Musandam Airport is expected to be ready in the second half of 2028.
The project assumes significance due to operational challenges facing the current Khasab Airport, especially the possibility of operating services for 24 hours.
The Khasab Airport
The project will be divided into phases and the first stage will include a 45-meter-wide runway will be constructed for the use of Airbus 319 and Boeing 737 aircraft.
A passenger building (to handle 250,000 passengers annually), will be constructed in addition to an air traffic control tower, runway 2,520 meters long and 45 meters wide), taxiways, a fire station, equipment repair shops, a marine rescue station, and parking lots for aircraft.
The will be a new road of 7 km leading to the airport.
In the second phase, the runway will be expanded to 3,300 meters capable of Airbus 330s, 350s, and Boeing 787s and 777s, in addition to increasing the number of taxiways and parking lots for aircraft, an aircraft isolation yard and the terminal building (if required).
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