Oman is making a bold push to modernize Muscat, investing $2.6 billion in Sultan Haitham City as it prepares for a future beyond oil. The ambitious project aims to redefine urban development in the Middle East, offering a practical, community-centered alternative to the extravagant megacities of its neighbors.
With low-rise buildings, integrated local housing, and a focus on sustainability, Sultan Haitham City stands in stark contrast to Dubai’s high-rise skyline. It is designed to house 100,000 people across multiple neighborhoods, featuring 25 mosques, 39 schools, and a planned mass transit system connecting it to Muscat’s historic core. Unlike other Gulf cities dominated by expat populations, Oman prioritizes preserving its local character, ensuring that native Omanis continue to live and work within the city.
However, some experts question whether Oman can resist the region’s trend toward grandiose urban spectacles. While the project champions measured, sustainable growth, the country is already planning taller developments along Muscat’s waterfront, signaling a potential shift toward high-end, investor-driven real estate.
As Oman seeks to expand its tourism sector, the challenge remains: Can it maintain its vision of a people-first, practical urban model, or will market forces push it toward the same glitzy, transient developments seen elsewhere in the Gulf?
