Friday 26 / July / 2024
Muscat: The Muscat Municipal Council has discussed transforming Sultan Qaboos Port into a global tourist destination.
The Council held its fifth meeting for this year, headed by His Excellency Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat, and in the presence of His Excellency the Chairman of Muscat Municipality. During the meeting, the Council reviewed the Omran Group’s statement regarding the project to develop the waterfront of Sultan Qaboos Port, and turn it into a tourist destination in line with the highest international standards.
The tourism project will ensure the implementation of the considerations set by the Oman Investment Authority, most notably achieving added value that does not conflict with the privacy of the port’s location, the historical and architectural heritage of the surrounding area, and the importance of providing tourism activities that suit the lifestyle of the local community.
The meeting also touched on the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources' statement regarding dam projects in Muscat Governorate. It emphasised the importance of continuing to focus on the integrated system related to the construction of dams, drainage channels, and valley paths and approving the resulting financial budgets as integrated projects in coordination with all competent authorities. It also discussed the possibility of rehabilitating and establishing the necessary protection for some residential areas affected by floods and exploiting the available spaces on the banks of some dams to implement tourism projects in coordination with the competent authorities.
The Council reviewed the recommendations of the Governorate Development Committee regarding the request to change the use of plots of land from residential to tourist use in the Wilayat of Muttrah, as this would represent a qualitative shift on the cultural level.
Regarding the legal issue, the Council reviewed the recommendations of the Legal Affairs Committee regarding the list of activities prohibited for expats in accordance with the Foreign Capital Investment Law to find a balance between attracting quality investments and encouraging the projects of Omani entrepreneurs, empowering small and medium enterprises that strengthen the Omani economy.
