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US-based architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has unveiled masterplan proposals for a smart city project in Oman. 

Known as Sultan Haitham City, the project spans 14.8 square kilometres and is located in the Al-Seeb district to the west of Muscat. According to media sources, the new city will have over 2.9 sq km of public space and 20,000 housing units catering to more than 100,000 people, as well as a university, schools, health facilities and mosques.

The construction work will begin in 2024 and will be completed in four phases. The first phase includes the development of a 5 sq km city centre and six of the development’s 19 planned neighbourhoods. The first phase is slated for completion by 2030.

The final phase of the project is expected to be completed by 2045.

Oman’s Ministry of Housing & Urban Planning said: “It is an urban expansion of the capital city of Muscat with a substantial size, a clear aim and a feasible implementation strategy.”

SOM’s managing director, Thomas Behr, said: “The Sultan Haitham City provides a new model for sustainable development in the region.”

Singapore-based Meinhardt Group is the engineering consultant and Canadian MT Planners is providing landscaping consultancy services on the project.