Oman’s Transport & Communications Ministry expects to appoint a consultant to undertake the feasibility study for a new regional airport and two runways in Musandam governorate soon.

This was confirmed by Mohammed bin Nasser al-Zaabi, chief executive of Oman’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation (Paca), in a meeting held on 29 October to discuss the comprehensive development programme for the governorate.

The Transport Ministry floated a tender in 2015 for a two-phased consultancy contract for the construction of a regional airport and two runways at Dibba and Medha.

However, MEED understands the contract has not yet been awarded.

The first phase of the contract entails reviewing the feasibility of constructing an airport across several locations including Harlf, Bakha, Lima and the current Khasab airport, with a provision for additional locations that may be suggested by the selected consultant.

The first phase of the consultancy work also involves assessing the feasibility of constructing two runways in Dibba and Madha, and the clearing of obstacles at the current Khasab airport to allow aircrafts to fly from both directions of the planned runways.

The second phase will involve a detailed evaluation of weather data in the proposed locations, an environmental impact assessment and a general plan for the airport, including proposed facilities that comply with global airport standards and costs.

In the meeting, Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Futaisi, Oman’s minister of Transport and Communications, affirmed that the Omani government will go ahead in implementing development projects at the governorate’s transport, ports, airport and communications sector.

“Despite the tough topography of Musandam, the ministry has not and will not stop the construction or roads to connect the various wilayats and villages, facilitate movement of people and meet the needs of the growth witnessed by the governorate at all levels,” Al-Zaaabi said in a statement.

In line with this plan, the national carrier, Oman Air, is expected to increase the number of flights to and from Musandam to nine weekly flights. It will also replace the current aircraft catering to the route with the 170-seater Boeing 737 starting from April 2018.

Al-Futaisi said the ministry has also received interest from international investors, particularly from China and Singapore, to redevelop Khasab Port.

Musandam is located in a peninsula projecting into the Strait of Hormuz and is separated from the rest of the sultanate by the UAE.