Muscat: The launch of the Greater Muscat Structure Plan under the slogan "Greater Muscat. Timeless Spirit, Boundless Vision" marks a pivotal milestone in the trajectory of integrated urban development. This initiative reaffirms the synergy between Omani heritage and ambitious future visions. Greater Muscat spans the governorates of Muscat and South Al Batinah, extending along a continuous urban strip exceeding 80 kilometers, from the Wilayat of Muttrah in the east to the Wilayat of Barka in the west, with a waterfront reaching approximately 100 kilometers.
According to Oman News Agency, this extension is characterized by environmental and geographical diversity, encompassing marine and terrestrial protection zones, urban control areas, portions of the Al Hajar mountain range, and a network of valleys. This topography grants the region a high degree of distinctiveness and allows for advanced urban planning that balances growth with resource conservation. The plan aspires to transform Greater Muscat into a prosperous and integrated city driven by diverse economic opportunities and supported by an attractive investment environment. By drawing on its ancient legacy and natural beauty, the plan aims to provide a high quality of life and sustainable global competitiveness.
The urban extension is defined as a geographical scope where urban and economic activities are integrated without being restricted by or altering administrative boundaries. Instead, it aims to provide a unified planning vision for a broader area, enhancing economic, social, and environmental integration. The Greater Muscat Structure Plan is built upon five primary objectives. The first, "Green Muscat," seeks to enhance sustainable green spaces by creating parks and tree-lined walkways, utilizing valleys and beaches as natural outlets. This includes the targeted implementation of four priority parks and increasing the per capita share of open spaces by 9 square meters by 2040.
The second objective, "Connected Muscat," focuses on developing an integrated transport system that includes modern public transit, pedestrian paths, and cycling tracks. It aims to ensure that 80 percent of the population can access public transport within walking distance, increase its usage by 20 percent, and establish a 55-kilometer light rail system featuring seven main stations, alongside primary and secondary logistics centers.
The third objective, "Productive Muscat," aims to build a dynamic economic environment through 15 diverse economic clusters, which will bolster Muscat's contribution to the non-oil Gross Domestic Product to 45 percent and increase productivity by 44 percent by 2040.
The fourth objective, "Vibrant Muscat," seeks to provide a modern lifestyle through integrated neighborhoods and active waterfronts, including the provision of 313,000 housing units, the activation of nine waterfronts, and increased reliance on renewable energy. The fifth objective, "Resilient and Safe Muscat," focuses on developing advanced infrastructure that enhances sustainability by reducing carbon emissions by 90 percent and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This goal also involves constructing protection dams, expanding service networks, and increasing the efficiency of water resource management.
The preparation of the plan involved extensive community and institutional participation, with more than 6,000 participants and over 90 government and private entities contributing through high-level meetings, specialized workshops, and community surveys.
The plan stems from the National Spatial Strategy approved by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in March 2021 as a comprehensive framework guiding development in the Sultanate of Oman. This strategy translates the objectives of "Oman Vision 2040" and has given rise to four major cities: Greater Muscat, Greater Salalah, Greater Sohar, and Greater Nizwa, which serve as primary drivers of national growth.
The development of the plan progressed through several key stages, beginning with the adoption of the National Spatial Strategy in March 2021, followed by the project's launch in March 2022 and the approval of its general framework in October 2023. It received the Royal blessing in March 2025 and concluded with its official launch today. The Greater Muscat Structural Plan represents a qualitative leap toward achieving sustainable urban development, reinforcing Muscat's status as an integrated urban hub on both regional and global levels.