The prospective bidders include the local/Austrian Strabag Oman and three Indian firms, Niraj Cement Structurals, Larsen & Toubro, Subhash Projects & Marketing. Two local firms, Bahwan Engineering Company and Desert Line Projects, are also involved, along with China Railway Construction Corporation, and India’s Gammon with Oman Holdings International.

Muscat has allocated RO134m ($348m) for airport projects in its budget for 2008. RO111m ($289m) will be used for consultancy services for Seeb and Salalah airports together with construction contracts for a new runway and terminal building.

Work is also being done on the design of six regional airports, at Sohar, Duqm, Adam, Haima and Shaleem (MEED 4:1:08).