The Omani government is in the early stages of planning for an airport city to be developed in Seeb and anchored around the Muscat International airport.

Three zones have been identified for the real estate and retail development project: the areas facing Al-Mouj Muscat, the area along 18th November Street, and the area around the existing terminal, according to local media reports.

The planned development is part of the local airport operator’s five-year strategic growth plan, commencing in 2016, to transform the company into a global airport operator, according to Aimen Ahmed al-Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC). “Our dream over the next five years is to build an entire city around Muscat airport so people can come, live and work in this city,” Al-Hosni said.

Apart from developing a new airport city, OAMC is aiming to operate and manage airports outside Oman within the five-year time frame. The firm, which currently operates the Muscat and Salalah airports, envisages to operate 10 local and international airports by 2020.

Al-Hosni also disclosed plans to eventually appoint two ground-handling companies for Muscat International in line with improving the quality of services provided to airline passengers. The existing terminal, which will be called Terminal 2, is also scheduled to be revamped and dedicated to low-cost carriers.

Muscat International handled more than 10 million passengers in 2015, some 17.6 per cent more than in the previous year.