Latest news with #GreaterSalalahStructuralPlan
CairoScene
15-03-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Sasaki Associates Unveils Waterfront Master Plan for Oman's Salalah
Sasaki Associates Unveils Waterfront Master Plan for Oman's Salalah Salalah, Oman's second-largest city, is on the cusp of a striking transformation. As part of Oman Vision 2040—a long-term strategy centered on economic diversification and sustainability—global design firm Sasaki Associates, in collaboration with Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, has unveiled an ambitious master plan to reimagine the city's waterfront. At its heart, the plan seeks to harmonize urban expansion with environmental resilience, ensuring that Salalah's waterfront is not just a development but an organic extension of the city's identity. By integrating coastal protection, pedestrian-friendly design, and mixed-use spaces, the project aligns with Oman's vision for a future-proofed, sustainable urban environment. Spanning 7.3 square kilometers, the master plan is structured around the concept of 'ten-minute neighborhoods,' where daily essentials, green spaces, and cultural hubs are all within a short walk or bike ride. This model fosters a self-sustaining, community-driven urban fabric—reducing reliance on cars and enhancing the quality of life through human-scaled design. Interwoven within the city's structured grid are 12,000 residential units, set to accommodate 60,000 residents. Despite the density, the master plan prioritizes open space, allocating 3.5 million square meters to parks and landscaped areas. These aren't mere green accents—they serve as climate-responsive interventions, mitigating rising temperatures, providing much-needed shade, and ensuring outdoor spaces remain livable year-round. Beyond housing, the plan envisions 200,000 square meters of retail space, two hospitals, and an infrastructure designed to function as a self-contained ecosystem. By decentralizing essential services, the development reconfigures Salalah's spatial logic—reducing dependency on distant commercial and healthcare hubs and fostering a more connected, accessible city. Crucially, the waterfront's transformation extends beyond human habitation. A wetland park will form a natural defense against flooding and extreme weather, reinforcing Salalah's environmental resilience. Meanwhile, a six-kilometer-long public beach ensures that the coastline remains accessible and inclusive, positioning the waterfront as a year-round destination for residents and visitors alike. This ambitious redevelopment is part of the Greater Salalah Structural Plan, a broader strategy addressing spatial, mobility, and infrastructure challenges. With Wilayat Salalah's population projected to reach 674,000 by 2040, the initiative adopts a phased approach—beginning later this year with the delivery of 5,827 residential units in its first stage. Photography Credit: Sasaki Associates
Muscat Daily
08-03-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Salalah New City masterplan unveiled
Work on waterfront development set to commence later this year Muscat – Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has revealed a masterplan for redevelopment of Salalah's waterfront, a key project in Oman's RO33bn development pipeline under Oman Vision 2040. The Salalah New City waterfront development is set to commence later this year. Covering 7.3sqkm, the project is designed by international design firm Sasaki and will feature over 12,000 residential units, housing 60,000 residents in four walking distance neighbourhoods. Khor Park The development prioritises mixed-use spaces, with focus on soft mobility, and will include 3.5mn sqm of open space and parks, 200,000sqm of retail and hospitality space, 100,000sqm of cultural amenities, two hospitals, and integrated transport links. A pedestrianised marina will offer retail, tourism and hospitality facilities. A key feature of the plan is a 6km public beach, aimed at enhancing Salalah's appeal as a year-round coastal destination. The design also incorporates climate resilience measures to address rising sea levels and flooding, particularly during khareef. These include a wetland park, revetments and natural infrastructure solutions to mitigate extreme weather impacts. Neighbourhood Square The waterfront development is part of the Greater Salalah Structural Plan, which aims to improve liveability, infrastructure and mobility, while accommodating the city's projected population growth to 674,000 by 2040. The project will be developed in phases, with the first phase delivering 5,827 residential units. It is expected to generate a 10.2% return for developers. The waterfront initiative aligns with Oman's broader economic diversification goals and target of RO51bn in tourism investment by 2040. This follows an investment of RO7.8bn between 2021 and 2023. Oman aims to increase tourism's contribution to the GDP to 5% by 2030 and 10% by 2040. Marina Waterfront H E Dr Khalfan al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, said, 'With works due to begin this year, we look forward to bringing Salalah New City to fruition with the Omani people and leading international partners, investors and developers.' Romil Sheth, Principal Designer at Sasaki Associates, described Salalah as 'blessed with incredible natural features and a deep history – lush wadis, local agriculture embedded in the city and an extensive coastline with sandy beaches'. To complement these assets, the Salalah New City plan adopts 'forward-looking urban design, place-making and planning practices that challenge status-quo urbanism and reflect an aspirational lifestyle for Dhofaris. The plan will serve as Oman's living laboratory for urban innovation and a model for sustainable urbanism in the broader region'. Culture Park
Zawya
06-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman's new coastal development to boost tourism and urban growth
MUSCAT: Salalah, on Oman's southern coast, is set to undergo a major transformation with the development of a sustainable and walkable waterfront city, a project aligned with Oman Vision 2040. In a statement, Sasaki, the international design firm leading the masterplan, emphasised that the development will integrate urban growth with environmental preservation while positioning Salalah as a model for sustainable urbanism. The New City Salalah project will span 7.3 square kilometres and feature 12,000 residential units, accommodating approximately 60,000 residents. The development will include 3.5 million square metres of parks and open spaces, 200,000 square metres of retail space and two hospitals. A six-kilometre-long public beach will be a key highlight, reinforcing Salalah's reputation as a year-round leisure destination. SUSTAINABILITY AND URBAN INNOVATION The masterplan integrates strategies to address climate resilience, particularly safeguarding the city from rising sea levels and extreme weather events during the khareef season. A wetland park and natural infrastructure solutions will be implemented to manage flooding risks and protect coastal ecosystems. The project is part of the broader Greater Salalah Structural Plan, which seeks to enhance infrastructure, mobility and spatial planning as the city's population is projected to reach 674,000 by 2040. The phased development will commence later this year, starting with the construction of 5,827 residential units in the first phase. Dr Khalfan bin Said al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, highlighted the project's role in Oman's economic diversification: 'Our plans for the evolution of Salalah epitomise Oman Vision 2040, designed to deliver a sustainable and prosperous future for the people of Oman. 'It serves as an exemplar of how combining tourism and urban development is driving the diversification of Oman's economy and bringing forward compelling opportunities for the international community.' 'With works due to begin this year, we look forward to bringing New City Salalah to fruition alongside the Omani people and leading international partners, investors and developers,' he added. A FORWARD-THINKING URBAN MODEL The project is being developed in collaboration with F&M Middle East, MIC-HUB and Cundall, as part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to develop Smart Cities across the country, including in Suhar and Nizwa. The mobility framework for Salalah will prioritise pedestrian-friendly spaces, reduce car dependency, and introduce shared and on-demand transport solutions. Romil Sheth, Principal Designer at Sasaki, underscored the importance of designing a city that reflects Salalah's natural and cultural assets: 'Salalah is blessed with incredible natural features and a deep history. To complement these significant assets, the Salalah New City plan adopts forward-looking urban design, placemaking, and planning practices that challenge status-quo urbanism and reflect an aspirational lifestyle for Dhofar's inhabitants.' 'The plan will serve as Oman's living laboratory for urban innovation and a model for sustainable urbanism in the broader region,' he added. With its mix of sustainable design, smart city elements and tourism-driven urban planning, New City Salalah is poised to be a flagship development, offering a vibrant, human-scaled and environmentally responsible vision for Oman's future cities. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
05-03-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman's new coastal development to boost tourism and urban growth
MUSCAT: Salalah, on Oman's southern coast, is set to undergo a major transformation with the development of a sustainable and walkable waterfront city, a project aligned with Oman Vision 2040. In a statement, Sasaki, the international design firm leading the masterplan, emphasised that the development will integrate urban growth with environmental preservation while positioning Salalah as a model for sustainable urbanism. The New City Salalah project will span 7.3 square kilometres and feature 12,000 residential units, accommodating approximately 60,000 residents. The development will include 3.5 million square metres of parks and open spaces, 200,000 square metres of retail space and two hospitals. A six-kilometre-long public beach will be a key highlight, reinforcing Salalah's reputation as a year-round leisure destination. SUSTAINABILITY AND URBAN INNOVATION The masterplan integrates strategies to address climate resilience, particularly safeguarding the city from rising sea levels and extreme weather events during the khareef season. A wetland park and natural infrastructure solutions will be implemented to manage flooding risks and protect coastal ecosystems. The project is part of the broader Greater Salalah Structural Plan, which seeks to enhance infrastructure, mobility and spatial planning as the city's population is projected to reach 674,000 by 2040. The phased development will commence later this year, starting with the construction of 5,827 residential units in the first phase. Dr Khalfan bin Said al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, highlighted the project's role in Oman's economic diversification: 'Our plans for the evolution of Salalah epitomise Oman Vision 2040, designed to deliver a sustainable and prosperous future for the people of Oman. 'It serves as an exemplar of how combining tourism and urban development is driving the diversification of Oman's economy and bringing forward compelling opportunities for the international community.' 'With works due to begin this year, we look forward to bringing New City Salalah to fruition alongside the Omani people and leading international partners, investors and developers,' he added. A FORWARD-THINKING URBAN MODEL The project is being developed in collaboration with F&M Middle East, MIC-HUB and Cundall, as part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to develop Smart Cities across the country, including in Suhar and Nizwa. The mobility framework for Salalah will prioritise pedestrian-friendly spaces, reduce car dependency, and introduce shared and on-demand transport solutions. Romil Sheth, Principal Designer at Sasaki, underscored the importance of designing a city that reflects Salalah's natural and cultural assets: 'Salalah is blessed with incredible natural features and a deep history. To complement these significant assets, the Salalah New City plan adopts forward-looking urban design, placemaking, and planning practices that challenge status-quo urbanism and reflect an aspirational lifestyle for Dhofar's inhabitants.' 'The plan will serve as Oman's living laboratory for urban innovation and a model for sustainable urbanism in the broader region,' he added. With its mix of sustainable design, smart city elements and tourism-driven urban planning, New City Salalah is poised to be a flagship development, offering a vibrant, human-scaled and environmentally responsible vision for Oman's future cities.
Trade Arabia
05-03-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Oman unveils mega masterplan for redevelopment of Salalah
Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has announced a mega masterplan for the redevelopment of the sultanate's second largest city, Salalah, covering 7.3 sq km, that will seek to further boost Salalah's attraction as a year-round sea and sun destination at the gateway between Asia, Europe and Africa, with the introduction of a new 6km-long public beach. Designed by leading international design studio Sasaki, the New City Salalah masterplan comprises over 12,000 residential units that can house 60,000 residents across four distinct, walkable neighbourhoods. Prioritising mixed-use and a soft-mobility focus throughout, it will also encompass 3.5 million sqm open space and parks, 200,000 sqm of retail and hospitality space and 100,000 sqm of cultural space and amenities, two new hospitals, and integrated, multimodal transport links. A new pedestrianised marina will host retail, tourism and hospitality offerings, stated the ministry. Part of the sultanate's RO33 billion ($85.4 billion) pipeline of development being delivered across the country as part of the Oman Vision 2040, the New City Salalah waterfront development will start on site later this year. The work on the New City Salalah waterfront development will start on site later this year. The ministry officials said the New City Salalah strikes a balance between celebrating the area's coastal context and protecting its unique natural features. A major focus on resilience to climate change has seen New City Salalah designed to withstand rising sea levels and flooding, particularly in consideration of the area's khareef monsoon season. This includes the introduction of wetland park and a series of revetments and natural infrastructure strategies which will mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events, it stated. The waterfront plans are an integrated part of the Greater Salalah Structural Plan, a structural framework to enhance liveability by resolving spatial, infrastructure and mobility issues, and increase capacity to cater to the growing Wilayat Salalah, projected to hit a population of 674,000 by 2040. The phased development approach will get underway later this year, with 5,827 residential units due to be delivered in Phase 1. The project is forecast to deliver developer returns of 10.2%. Unveiling the masterplan, Dr Khalfan Al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, Oman, said: "Our plans for the evolution of Salalah epitomise the Oman Vision 2040, designed to deliver a sustainable and prosperous future for the people of Oman. It serves as an exemplar of how combining tourism and urban development is driving the diversification of Oman's economy and bringing forward compelling opportunities for the international community." "Salalah is a beloved and important city that contributes significantly to our nation. These plans will help to ensure it can continue to serve our people and economy for many generations to come, while showcasing some of Oman's greatest strengths to visitors from across the globe," stated Al Shueili. "With works due to begin this year, we look forward to bringing New City Salalah to fruition alongside the Omani people and leading international partners, investors and developers," he noted. A two-hour flight from Dubai and 1.5 hour drive from Muscat, Salalah is already home to Oman's largest logistics port and is a popular tourist destination due to its access to nature and temperate climate, attracting over one million tourists in 2024. The master plan seeks to further enhance Salalah's attraction as a year-round sea and sun destination at the gateway between Asia, Europe and Africa, with the introduction of a new 6km-long public beach, he added. The project is a key part of the Oman Vision 2040 to achieve a developed, diversified, and sustainable national economy, with fair distribution of development gains and protection of natural resources. The nation is targeting RO51 billion in tourism investment by 2040, following a successful investment of RO 7.8 billion between 2021-23. Oman aims to double tourism's contribution to GDP to 5% by 2030 and again to 10% by 2040. Romil Sheth, Prinicipal Designer at Sasaki Associates, said: "Salalah is blessed with incredible natural features and a deep history. Lush wadis, local agriculture embedded into the city, an extensive coastline with sandy beaches." "To complement these significant assets, the Salalah New City plan adopts forward-looking urban design, place-making and planning practices that challenge status-quo urbanism and reflect an aspirational lifestyle for Dhofaris," he stated.
