The Sultanate of Oman plans to create its first-ever smart city to the west of the Omani capital of Muscat in the district of Al-Seeb. Sultan Haitham City, named after Haitham bin Tarik, sultan and prime minister of Oman, will cover a total area of 14.8 square kilometres, and will eventually host a population of 100,000 people in 20,000 new homes. It will contain 39 schools and 24 mosques, according to an article in the online magazine Building Design.
The American engineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has worked up masterplan proposals for Oman’s new smart city. The plans feature more than 19 neighbourhoods, 11 health facilities, a 1,200-bed hospital, a private hospital and elderly-care facilities. There are also smart traffic management systems, solar energy facilities, waste-water recycling and electric vehicle infrastructure.
According to the article, the Omani government said the new city was planned to “reflect sound and sustainable urban planning”. There will be 2.9 square kilometres of green space, including a park along a wadi, which is a dry river to harness floodwater. The city will also feature smart infrastructure to monitor environmental factors such as air quality and water.
Construction is due to start in 2024 for completion in 2030. Three further phases, expected to run until 2045, will complete the project. ce/em
