Oman is spending billions of dollars to improve its airport infrastructure and increase the country’s overall aviation capacity as part of an effort to expand its economy and boost its tourism sector. Tourism currently accounts for about 3 per cent of GDP and indirectly supports 70,000 jobs.

The aim is for the tourism industry’s contribution to the economy to rise to 5 per cent by 2015 and for it to support more than 130,000 jobs. At present, Oman receives just over 2 million visitors each year. The government hopes to increase this to 4 million by 2015.

Airport expansions

Oman’s aviation projects include major terminal developments at Muscat and Salalah international airports, as well as the construction of four regional airports at Sohar and Duqm, both of which are under construction, and in Ras al-Hadd and Adam, both at the tendering and design stage.

The biggest project is the scheme to expand the two largest air transport hubs in the sultanate – Muscat International and Salalah airports. The extension of Muscat International is being executed over four phases, with capacity increased to 12 million passengers a year in phase one, 24 million in phase two, 36 million in phase three and 48 million in phase four. An airport city, featuring a car and rental hub, an office complex, shops, hotels, malls and an aviation school, is planned to be built alongside the airport.

The new runaway and control tower are expected to be completed by the end of 2014. In late 2010, the Transport & Communications Ministry awarded a RO706m ($1.8bn) contract to a consortium of the US’ Bechtel, the local Bahwan Engineering and Turkey’s Enka to build a new passenger terminal. The building will cover 300,000 square metres in total and is also due to open by the end of 2014.

The upgrade of Salalah airport in the Dhofar governorate is taking place over three phases. Phase one will increase capacity to 1 million passengers a year, phase two will increase this to 2 million and after stage three the airport will be able to handle 4-6 million passengers a year. The project includes a new runway, taxiways and aprons. A joint venture of India’s Larsen & Toubro and the local Galfar Engineering & Contracting is working on the estimated $712m contract to build the terminal building.

In November 2012, US-based Hill International was awarded a RO41.8m ($108.5m)
contract to oversee the development of the two airports. Hill replaced a team of Denmark’s Cowi and the local Larsen Architects & Consulting Engineers, which ceased managing the project at the end of 2012. The joint venture had been selected to oversee the development in early 2005.