Oman to build two low-carbon smart cities

• Part of ‘carbon-free environment plans’
• Sites in Muscat and in mountain region
• Government aims for net zero by 2050

Oman has announced two new smart cities as part of its drive to reduce carbon emissions. 

The first city will be built in the mountain region of Jebel Akhdar, which is about 2,400 metres above sea level. The 12,000-sq-m plot is designed to accommodate 10,000 residents. 

The second development is Thuraya City in Bawshar Heights, Muscat. It will house 8,000 people. 

Both projects were announced on Monday, the opening day of Design and Build Week at Oman Conference and Exhibition Centre in Muscat. They will be powered by renewable sources such as solar-generated electricity.

The two smart cities will “promote Oman’s carbon-free environment plans”, said the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in a statement.

• First phase of Oman’s Sultan Haitham City on track for 2030
• Editor’s Insight: Oman and its foreign energy partners
• $350m city planned in southern Oman to attract tourists

Oman is currently building the $2.6 billion Sultan Haitham City in the province of Seeb, northwest of Muscat. The site, which stretches over 14.8 million square metres, is due to have 20,000 housing units distributed across 19 neighbourhoods.

Oman has also approved the construction of a $350 million city in the southern region of Dhofar, to house 60,000 people. 

Last week the Oman Centre for Net Zero was launched, to support the government’s target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

“Net zero is now extended to towns and cities for clean living and not just for industrial operations, which will certainly attract more foreign property buyers,” Naifeen Al Bahrani, director of Jumaana Travels, told AGBI.