The prospective bidders include the local/Austrian Strabag Oman and three Indian firms, Niraj Cement Structurals, Larsen & Toubro and 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 2008 budget. RO111m ($289m) will be used for consultancy services for Seeb and Salalah airports. Work is also being done on the design of six regional airports, at Sohar, Duqm, Adam, Haima and Shaleem.