The Sultanate of Oman is committed to the development of the strategic city of Musandam, in the Strait of Hormuz
The Omani authorities are committed to the development of the city of Musandam, which has a privileged geographical location at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, between the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf
Musandam constitutes a strategic passage in an area, the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, which has significant maritime traffic, bound for the ports of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
- National decentralisation plan
- Investments in the region
- Tourism and fishing
- Health, education and culture
The Sultanate of Oman, aware of the importance of this region, wants to promote its development through a series of ambitious projects in all sectors, which will have a significant impact on improving its strategic position and benefitting the population.
National decentralisation plan
The initiative forms part of the national plan to promote decentralisation in the Sultanate, to boost the economy and development in all territories, developing their infrastructures and attracting investors.
In the words of the governor of the city of Musandam, Ibrahim bin Saeed Al-Busaidi, this commitment to development ‘is the product of a plan for the national economy in general, and given that Musandam is one of the governorates that attract investment, the government plan focuses on providing the infrastructure needed by investment areas, which is something we are working on, whether in renewable energy or in the electricity and water sectors, from a sustainable point of view that respects the ocean and the region, and providing services at competitive prices’.
Precisely because of Musandam's unique strategic location and its economic and geopolitical importance, the delay in launching this development strategy has surprised analysts, who believe that it was necessary to exploit the region's enormous potential in the tourism, maritime and logistics sectors.
For this reason, it is interpreted that Oman's decision to contribute to the development of this strategic area is motivated by the regional and international economic changes that are taking place and that particularly affect the Strait of Hormuz, making it necessary to strengthen governance to guarantee its stability.
According to the governor, ‘the change in Musandam over the last few decades has been huge. Those who know the region, for example, will notice that the change that has taken place since the 1970s is very clear, as the marine and urban areas were not connected to the roads and some basic services were not available. But the acceleration of the renaissance from the 70s to the current century was very fast, and it is necessary to keep up with the current times, with the development plan and the experience gained, so that it does not affect the demography and culture of society’.
Investments in the region
The Musandam Governorate's development plan focuses on several areas: tourism; infrastructure and services; fisheries; energy and environmental sustainability; health and education.
In the presentation made by the Governor of Musandam on the strategic vision of the governorate, he explained the projects and initiatives aimed at strengthening its position as an important destination for investment and tourism.
Among the most noteworthy projects are the development of the port of Khasab, with the aim of turning it into an integrated logistics and tourism centre, and the Musandam airport project, to strengthen its air connections with Oman and the rest of the world.
Infrastructure is also being completed, such as the Sultan Faisal bin Turki highway, which connects the governorate's states and is one of the vital projects for improving infrastructure.
To facilitate transport operations and improve the logistics sector, the government has invested more than 104 million dollars in the development of the maritime fishing port in the state of Dibba, in addition to the Khasab-Lima-Dibba road, which is one of the strategic and vital projects, as it will contribute to the opening up of new areas for urban, economic and commercial development in the governorate, as well as revitalising the tourist industry.
Tourism and fishing
In the tourism sector, the Ras Al-Amam Resort is being developed in Khasab, with an investment of 13 million dollars, a luxury tourism project that improves the region's attractiveness as a global destination.
The fishing sector is also of great interest as it is a source of income for a large number of families in a region that is completely dependent on the sea. In this sense, almost 8 million dollars have been invested in the new Khasab fish market, with the aim of increasing the efficiency of the fish marketing system, as well as helping to increase the volume of investments related to fishing.
Also in relation to the development of the fishing sector, the government has launched a fish farming project in the Al-Haraf area, in the state of Khasab, with a financial value of more than 26 million dollars, with an expected production of more than 10,000 tonnes per year.
Health, education and culture
In the fields of health and education, university faculties of Technology and Science have been opened in Musandam, offering a range of specialisations with the aim of promoting higher education and providing advanced educational opportunities for the local population.
Health services have also been strengthened through the development of facilities such as a fertility hospital, the provision of qualified medical staff and the establishment of a regional medical warehouse to ensure the supply of medicines.
The cultural sector is also an important part of the Musandam Governorate's development strategy, which is reflected in several initiatives and projects aimed at preserving heritage and promoting national identity. These initiatives include the Musandam Winter Festival and the maintenance and rehabilitation of historic castles and forts such as Khasab Castle and Bakha Castle.
The local authorities and the government are also currently working on the Dibba Archaeological Centre, an important cultural site in the state of Dibba, to highlight the historical and archaeological importance of the area. The construction cost of the project is estimated at around 7.5 million dollars and is expected to be completed by mid-2025.
In addition, the Musandam Governorate is developing its beaches in line with the projects to promote ecotourism and the sea within the framework of the Oman Vision 2040 strategic plan. These projects aim to improve the tourist infrastructure and attract foreign visitors.
These beaches include Basah and Hayout in the state of Khasab; Hal beach in the state of Bakha; and Al-Sut beach in the state of Dibba.
These projects include the development of beach facilities, taking into account the preservation of the environment, nature and the unique biodiversity of the area.
