Infrastructure is crucial for Oman as it tries to develop sectors such as tourism and industry.

One of the largest recipients of government spending will be the road sector, which has been allocated RO730m ($1.9bn) for the coming year. RO188m will be spent repairing damage sustained during tropical cyclone Gonu.

Fresh road projects include RO68m for the paving of the Hasik-Al-Shwimiah road, RO66m for the Al-Emirat-Qurayyat dual carriageway, RO48m for the Salalah-Thumrat dual carriageway, and RO50m to tackle the growing problem of congestion in the Muscat area.

RO365m has been allocated to port projects. RO199m will be spent on Duqm port, RO66m will be used for quay walls on the third phase of Sohar Industrial Port, and an additional RO17m will be spent on the quay for the Salalah Menthanol plant. The Transport & Communciation Ministry is evaluating bids for the contract to build Duqm port.

Airports will receive RO134m investment. RO111m will be used for consultancy services for Seeb and Salalah airports.

Tenders for the construction of a runway at Seeb are expected in the first half of this year, and an award is due for the new terminal by the end of the year.

Work is also being done on the design for six regional airports at Sohar, Duqm, Ras al-Had, Adam, Haima and Shaleem.