Duqm, Muscat - In a key milestone in the Oman's master plan to spur residential development in the Duqm industrial zone, the first phase of the ambitious Frontier Town project was officially launched on Thursday.
The Duqm Frontier Town project is part of the country's long-term plan to develop the coastal area of Duqm into a fully integrated export hub.
The first phase, which is spread over 23 hectares, offers 344 fully furnished residential units, including 250 apartments and 94 villas. A second phase is also planned for the large-scale project.
Quality accommodation
The project is aimed at providing quality accommodation for the management staff of Oman Drydock Company. The plan was named Residential Project of the Year at Construction Week Oman Awards 2014.
The Duqm Development Company, which is jointly underwritten by Omran and Oman Drydock Company, started the construction of the first phase in December 2010 and completed it in May 2013.
Frontier Town is located on the eastern coastline of Oman, some 550 kilometres by road towards the south of Muscat and a similar distance by road north of Salalah.
The facilities provided in the first phase include a leisure club which features a restaurant, swimming pools, multisport hall, gym, squash court, outdoor tennis court, beach volleyball court and retail shops.
Also drainage, power and communications distribution system, water distribution system and storage facilities, and sewage treatment facility have been provided in the development.
The first phase was launched a day after the inauguration of Omran's OMR17 million Crowne Plaza Duqm Hotel. The 4-star hotel features 213 guest rooms, including 16 junior suites, two 1-bedroom suites, two 2-bedroom suits, and one royal suite, and offers a range of dining facilities, a fitness centre, swimming pool, business centre, ballroom and meeting and conference facilities.
Added incentive
Speaking to the Times of Oman, Ibrahim Sultan Al Hosni, deputy CEO of Duqm Development Company, said that the first phase of the Frontier Town project was implemented with an investment of around OMR35 million.
"The project is aimed at helping the employers retain their employees. The Frontier Town has been developed for companies and not for individuals. It is also not for locals," Al Hosni said, noting that units would not be available to expatriates to buy.
Asked what delayed the completion of the project, which had been scheduled for December 2012, the official said that the main reasons were weather conditions and the decision to include more components.
Yahya bin Said Al Jabri, chairman of the board of directors of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), said that the project is meant to enhance the quality of life of the employees and encourage more people to work in Duqm.
"It will help the growth of the entire zone," he said.
Yahya Kamis Juma al-Zadjali, vice-president for planning and engineering at SEZAD, said that the project is a landmark one in many respects, including the fact that the design is characterised by a blend of Western-style modernity and Omani traditional architecture.
Omran's OMR50m investment
In addition, Wael Al Lawati, chief executive officer of Omran, said that the idea of the Frontier Town was to offer quality accommodation to the management of Oman Drydock Company.
"We are now in discussion with other companies to support their accommodation needs," Al Lawati told the Times of Oman.
"The project raises the bar in terms of quality and the facilities that can be offered to the staff. It will help the country to attract the best employees to work in Duqm," he said. He also said that Omran has so far invested OMR50 million in Duqm.
Contribution to Al Wusta
Madhad Mohammed Al Yaqoobi, governor of the Al Wusta Governorate, also hailed the project, noting that the other wilayats in Al Wusta would benefit from development and economic growth in Duqm.
"What happens in Duqm is good for everyone in Al Wusta because this kind of project will help create more jobs for the youth," he said.
© Times of Oman 2014
