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Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning announced 20 partnership, development and tender agreements valued at more than OMR1 billion at the opening of Urban October 2026 on 5 October. The package covers planned city districts, residential neighbourhoods, public facilities and tourism developments, bringing together public procurement and private-sector partnerships as the country advances its national urban development programme.

Among the most significant architectural appointments is an OMR4.5 million commission awarded to Danish architecture practice BIG, following an international design competition, to prepare the detailed masterplan for Phase Three of A’Thuraya City. Two further agreements in A’Thuraya name Zawaya Group and Al Namaa Real Estate as development partners for three residential neighbourhoods comprising 485 homes. Together, these schemes represent OMR100 million in announced investment.

In A’Thuraya City, an international masterplanning commission has been awarded alongside OMR100 million in developer-led residential agreements.

The programme also extends beyond Muscat. Eight agreements under Sorouh, Oman’s integrated residential neighbourhood initiative, cover 2,443 homes across locations including Bidbid, Nizwa, Sohar and Taqah, with a combined investment value of approximately OMR186.6 million. Rather than a single large development, these projects bring different developers into a series of geographically dispersed housing schemes, potentially generating opportunities for architectural, engineering and landscape practices.

At a separate investment forum on 7 October, agreements valued at more than OMR550 million were announced, led by the Madana integrated tourism complex, with planned investment exceeding OMR400 million. The agreement involves the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and Dhofar Tourism Company. Other initiatives cover educational facilities, housing assistance, project financing and land-use arrangements. The investment figures relate to different announcement packages and should not be combined into an independently verified cumulative total.

Organised in partnership with UN-Habitat, Urban October brought policymakers, developers, investors and consultants together in Muscat from 5 to 8 October. Its significance extends beyond the scale of the agreements, demonstrating how government-led planning, private development commitments and architectural procurement can be coordinated within a national programme.

For architectural practices, the most valuable information lies behind the investment figures: who controls each site, which consultants have been appointed and what work remains to be commissioned.

The distinction between announced investment and confirmed appointments remains important. While BIG’s commission represents an awarded consultancy contract, other developments are at different stages of planning, financing and delivery. As Oman advances its programme, future architectural opportunities may emerge through the residential neighbourhoods, infrastructure and specialist design packages needed to translate these agreements into built projects.

معلومات إضافية

Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning – Urban October 2026

Oman News Agency – Development agreements announced on 5 October

The Arabian Stories – Further investment agreements announced during Urban October