06 June 2016
Muscat - The governments of Oman and Qatar have signed an agreement to hand over land for the RO250mn eco-themed Ras al Hadd tourism project. 

The move, which shows Oman's commitment towards bolstering the economy, is set to propel tourism and infrastructure development in South Sharqiyah.

An agreement to transfer the land was signed on Thursday by Hilal al Hinai, advisor for green tourism and acting director general for planning and follow up, in the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and Khalid al Sayed, CEO, Qatari Diar Real Estate Company. Work on the project is expected to begin in January 2017. In 2014, a comprehensive development agreement was signed between Oman and Qatari Diar Ras al Hadd Development Company, a newly established entity jointly owned by Omran and Qatari Diar Company.

"When complete, the eco-themed resort will include more than 700 hotel rooms spread over five star hotels and a boutique resort, 700 residential properties, 23,000sq m of souq and retail areas, a dedicated centre for wildlife preservation, an observation park spread over 10,000sq m and a specialised marine life park.

"Finally, it will be complemented by a dedicated heritage village, and an accommodation zone for support staff with a capacity for more than 800," the Qatari Diar Company stated. The first phase will include the establishment of a 100-room eco-themed resort, 50 hotel villas, 150 residential villas and a 7,000sq m for a souq. Construction in this phase is expected to complete by 2018-end. The second phase involves the addition of 100 new five-star hotel rooms to the resort, as well as an additional 196 residential villas, and a dedicated centre for wildlife preservation and observation park.

The third phase will see the construction of a separate 200- room five-star resort, an additional 50 hotel villas and 179 residential villas, as well as the development of a new market area covering 16,000sq m as well as the construction of a specialised marine life park.

The final phase of the Ras al Hadd project will witness the opening of a 150-room five-star hotel, 50 hotel villas, 175 new residential villas, construction of the heritage village, and the accommodation zone for support staff with a capacity for 836 employees.

© Muscat Daily 2016