Govt awards Phase 1 development of greenfield facility
MUSCAT -- Development of the Ras al Hadd Airport in the Sharqiya region is set to begin shortly with the government awarding a contract for the execution of the first phase of the project. The greenfield facility will serve as a gateway into Ras al Hadd an area endowed with rich tourism investment potential centring on its turtle breeding beaches, nature reserve, and rich archaeological heritage.
The project will also support the socio-economic development of the wider Sharqiya region. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is overseeing the development of the airport, which is envisioned as a Tier 2 type facility designed to handle around 500,000 passengers per year. Although essentially a domestic airport, Ras al Hadd will be built to Code F design standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), meaning that it will be suitable for some of the largest aircraft in operation today, including the Airbus Superjumbo A380.
The airport will come up on a site about 10 kilometres inland from the coast not far from Addaffa village, about 25 kilometres from Ras al Hadd. Well known Omani contractor Desert Line Projects has won a contract to implement the Phase 1 package of the airport project at a cost of around RO 9 million. It involves the construction of a roughly 10-km access road leading to the terminal, as well as site preparation works, and communications and power facilities.
The second phase, due to be tendered out next month, covers the development of airside facilities, including the construction of a four-kilometre-long runway, taxiway and apron. The selected contractor will also develop, among other things, fuel hydrant facilities and install navigation aids. Envisaged in the third phase is the construction of the passenger terminal building and Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, along with the provision of boarding bridges, baggage handling and security systems and fire-fighting facilities.
Canada-based airport development specialist Pryde Schropp McComb, Inc (PSMI) and its local partner Gulf Engineering Consultants are the design and construction supervision consultants for the Ras Al Hadd Airport project. Importantly, the new airport will help crystallise the government's goal of developing Ras al Hadd into a world-class eco-tourism destination. State-owned Omran, which is a major investor in Oman's tourism sector, has teamed up with Doha-based Qatari Diar real estate investment company, to develop a beachfront eco-tourism resort on the beautiful bay of Ras Al Hadd.
The two million square metres Ras Al Hadd resort will feature a marina, five-star and four-star hotels, holiday chalets, residential villas, a coastal entertainment and sports club, restaurants and cafés, and traditional souk for local and traditional crafts. Ras Al Hadd Airport is expected to be operation in the first half of 2012.
By Conrad Prabhu
© Oman Daily Observer 2008
