Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: A new housing project complete with all necessities is set to begin construction in Barka today.
It will feature 1,050 housing units split between villas, town houses, and apartments. These will be reserved for affordable purchase by Omanis who are currently in a government waiting list for land. In addition to housing units, the project will include parks, parking spaces, a shopping centre, as well as a mosque.
The project's inaugural event took place under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Saif Mohammad Al Shabibi, Minister of Housing.
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H.E. Talal Al Rahbi, Steering Committee Chairman and Deputy Secretary-General for the Supreme Council for Planning, said, "While owning property in these projects is currently only open to Omanis, they are free to rent them to expats. And if the general regulations change regarding expat ownership, they will automatically change for these projects as well."
Al Harthy agreed that this project will create a number of jobs beyond construction. Because of the various facilities, companies will be encouraged to open shops in its shopping centres.
H.E. Al Shabibi said, "These projects are not a replacement for our system of allocating land to citizens. You are able to wait for land if you choose to. This is simply a method where you can substitute that land for a home here."
"This project is a leap that aims to improve the quality of life for Omanis by creating these housing projects. They are available to Omanis who are eligible for receiving land from the Ministry of Housing."
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Engineer Siham Ahmed Al Harthi, Director General of Real Estate Development at the ministry, believes that there are advantages to gaining a house in this way.
"The first is that this is much more cost-effective than building your own home because it is a larger project. Also, we guarantee the quality of every housing unit. Finally, this will become a central neighborhood, complete with parks and entertainment. 60 per cent of the area is leisure,and 40 per cent is housing," she said to Times of Oman.
According to Al Harthi, the project should take four years to complete construction, but it would then be unveiled over stages.
"Steps for this project began with forming the steering commitee, then with administrative decisions that culminated in choosing Adrak Developers L.L.C. to implement this project.
"There has been a decision to make this project the first of others. Land has been designated around the country to create other housing projects such as this one around the Sultanate," Al Harthi added.
A promotional video said, "At 350,000 square metres, this is the first project of its kind in Oman. Costs will be affordable and the project lowers the time Omanis need to wait to receive land from the government."
