79 projects worth over RO 10mn implemented in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate

Al Dakhiliyah Governorate seeks to 14 new projects worth RO 13.4mn

Nizwa: The Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah is witnessing a remarkable development renaissance that reflects the government’s commitment to achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of life for citizens, with a qualitative shift in service projects on roads, parks, markets, squares and health walkways.

Recent statistics indicate that 79 projects have been implemented in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate at an estimated cost of RO 10.997 million, to contribute to supporting the governorate’s infrastructure and serving all societal aspects.

68 projects are currently being implemented in the governorate at a cost of RO 30.593 million, as they will play a vital role in improving the quality of services provided to the community, which includes improving the road network, health walkways and parks, in addition to 36 projects in the contracting procedures stages at an estimated cost of RO 19.867 million.

His Excellency Sheikh Hilal bin Saeed Al Hajri, Governor of the Interior, stressed that this large number of projects indicates the efforts made to develop new projects that meet the needs of citizens, with a focus on accelerating the contracting process to ensure implementation as soon as possible according to the contractual data.

His Excellency said in a statement to the Oman News Agency that Al Dakhiliyah Governorate seeks to implement 14 new projects during the next phase at a total cost exceeding RO 13.4 million, aiming to enhance sustainable development and improve the standard of living, noting that these projects are expected to contribute to enhancing economic growth, providing new job opportunities and improving basic services.

His Excellency added that the strategy that the governorate is working on is based on promoting natural resources, cultural and natural heritage, and achieving an effective partnership between the public and private sectors in order to create investment opportunities through which it seeks to achieve economic and developmental returns and enhance added value, adding that the governorate seeks to activate the local administrations of the states by involving them in preparing joint work plans and teams.

His Excellency pointed out that the governorate seeks during the next phase to enhance the infrastructure in its affiliated wilayats to attract investors, with a focus on the visitor experience to the governorate and the sustainability of tourism activity throughout the year, explaining that the governorate has launched many projects that provide opportunities for investors, including the Nizwa entrance development project, which was completed during this year, and the Nizwa Public Park project, which has begun to be implemented according to the timetable.

The governorate is currently implementing the Al Jabal Al Akhdar Public Park project, the Al Dakhiliya Square project (Al Dakhiliya Boulevard), which has reached the final stage of awarding and starting implementation, the Jebel Shams Facade project (Grand Canyon), where the governorate signed a contract to implement the consulting services for the project, the “Integrated Public Transport Station in the Wilayat of Nizwa” project, which was signed with a real estate developer to implement it as the first public transport station in the Sultanate of Oman (under the investment system), and the “Asalah in Bahla” project.

The governorate has sought to promote heritage tourism in some of the governorate’s wilayats to raise the efficiency of infrastructure and public services in those sites.

The governorate is currently implementing a project to restore the wall of Harat Al Aqar and a project to pave the lanes in the neighborhood. It has also announced a tender to develop and rehabilitate services in Misfat Al Abriyeen in the Wilayat of Al Hamra and a tender to develop and rehabilitate Bahla Oasis.

Through these projects, the governorate hopes to achieve and raise tourism indicators in historical and heritage sites, in addition to various events and festivals such as the Green Mountain Summer and winter events, including the “Humam” mountain running race, the Samayil Festival, and other events in parks and gardens.

His Excellency the Governor of Al Dakhiliyah explained that there is close cooperation between the governorate and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, as it is one of the most important partners concerned with urban planning, resulting in many projects and initiatives such as the Nizwa Greater Master Plan project, the first phase of which was completed in preparation of the master plan in cooperation with various sectors such as higher education, scientific research, commercial services, and the natural and heritage tourism sector.

Among the most prominent housing development projects are the Mountain Facade Project in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar and the Al Zain Fort Project in the Wilayat of Bidbid, which aims to create a sustainable residential environment for the governorate’s residents, and the Jebel Shams Facade Project (Grand Canyon) in the Wilayat of Al Hamra at an altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level and with a total area of ​​148,000 square meters. It was chosen as the best development project in the governorates’ competition for the year 2024, in implementation of the high directives to develop the governorates and align their programs with the goals of the “Oman 2040” vision, in addition to residential neighborhood projects, where a number of residential neighborhoods were established in (Rada Al Busaid) in the Wilayat of Nizwa.

His Excellency explained that the Governorate of Ad Dakhiliyah has had its share of urban renewal projects in the Wilayat of Al Hamra, represented by the (Old Al Hamra Neighbourhood Renewal) project, by blending Al Hamra’s rich history with the needs of the modern economy, ensuring the preservation of the unique architectural heritage of the Sultanate of Oman and laying the foundation for future growth.

It is expected that the old neighbourhood will become a model for sustainable urban renewal. His Excellency pointed out that a number of important sites have been prepared to make them vibrant places to highlight their urban components in a manner that suits the aspirations of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism to become a leading tourist destination that serves the people and residents of the governorate in general, stressing that there are still planning studies and research underway to create new investment sites in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate that will be announced later in accordance with the policies of the comprehensive urban strategy and the “Oman 2040” vision.

Regarding the tourism and heritage sectors, His Excellency explained that the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate focused on improving and developing tourist sites in its various wilayats in cooperation with the Heritage and Tourism Department in the Governorate and joint coordination to hold tourism festivals in the summer and winter seasons.

Tenders and auctions were also launched in the field of developing the parks and afforestation sector, noting that the Governorate is working on preparing roads to facilitate access to tourist sites in addition to preparing archaeological sites for tourist movement. His Excellency stressed that the governorate pays great attention to the tourism sector due to its unique tourism components and natural, historical and cultural landmarks.

It is a destination for tourists from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman throughout the year. Among these sites are Nizwa Fort, Bahla Fort, which has been included in the World Heritage List, Jabreen Fort, Samayil Fort, Falaj Daris, Falaj Al Khatmain and Falaj Al Malki, which have been included in the World Heritage List.

His Excellency said that the governorate is famous for many traditional markets such as the markets of Nizwa, Bahla and Fanja, in addition to the old neighborhoods and tourist inns that distinguish the governorate and provide an exceptional experience known for the authenticity of Omani civilization, pointing out that the Green Mountain is one of the most important tourist attractions thanks to its moderate climate and the beauty of its geological features, as the village of Al Sujarah in the Green Mountain was developed to be a tourist tributary, especially for adventure tourism lovers, in addition to other tourist sites such as Jebel Shams and the village of Misfat Al Abriyeen in the Wilayat of Al Hamra, Al Hoota Cave and others.

His Excellency added that the “Oman Through Time Museum” in the Wilayat of Manah in the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate represents an architectural icon that introduces visitors to the history of the Sultanate of Oman, its renaissance, and the qualitative shift between its past, present, and future.

His Excellency the Governor of Al Dakhiliyah noted that the most prominent achievement in the context of the social work strategy is what the General Directorate of Social Development in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate is doing through implementing its various programs and projects in order to improve its performance and improve its services provided to the beneficiary groups, indicating that the total number of cases benefiting from monthly financial assistance during this year in the governorate is approximately 85 thousand cases at an amount of 659.5 thousand Omani riyals, while the total number of cases of emergency financial assistance, disaster cases and prosthetic devices until last September amounted to approximately 926 cases at an amount of 379.4 thousand Omani riyals.

Regarding investment in the governorate’s own resources to achieve sustainable development and create job opportunities for citizens, His Excellency said that the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority continues its work in supporting and empowering micro, small and medium enterprises to grow, expand and raise their competitiveness through innovative and sustainable programs for entrepreneurs and craftsmen and providing them with skills; explaining that the number of new applications for the Riyada Card during this year in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate reached 2,727 applications, while the number of card renewals reached 2,222. His Excellency stated that the number of Omani workers in small and medium enterprises in the governorate reached 7,604 workers, including 5,353 workers in small enterprises, 1,926 workers in small enterprises, and 325 workers in medium enterprises.

His Excellency stressed that the educational process in the governorate has witnessed remarkable development in recent years through strengthening the educational infrastructure and developing curricula and series in line with the requirements of the labor market, in addition to directing attention towards developing students’ capabilities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and starting to implement a number of innovation incubators within the governorate’s schools in partnership with the private sector, explaining that there are many educational and academic institutions in the governorate, including the Sultan Qaboos Institute for Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers, which has received more than 1,508 students from 62 countries around the world since its establishment in 2012. Regarding the health sector in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate,

His Excellency pointed out that the Ministry of Health, represented by the General Directorate of Health Services in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, worked during this year to implement many health projects and services to enhance the quality of health care in various health institutions in the governorate, including expansion, maintenance and rehabilitation projects for hospitals and health centers in various wilayats of the governorate, including the Nizwa Hospital expansion project (second phase), and it is hoped that the agreement will be signed before the end of this year with the company designing and implementing the project, the Bahla Health Complex expansion project, and health building maintenance and rehabilitation projects in Nizwa, Bahla, Samayil, Izki and Al Jabal Al Akhdar. Work is also underway on projects to rehabilitate CT scan rooms at Nizwa Hospital, and rehabilitate the emergency building at Izki Hospital.

His Excellency added that the new projects being implemented include the new Samayil Hospital project, on which construction work has begun, the consultancy studies project for the new Bahla Hospital, the Seih Al Maashi Health Center project, the corridor project linking the emergency building and departments to Samayil Hospital, where the site has been handed over to the implementing company, and the kidney dialysis unit project at Adam Hospital, which is currently underway. It is expected to be completed during the second half of next year, noting that the General Directorate of Health Services in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate has operated the Ras Al Jabal Health Center and Physiotherapy Clinic projects in the Wilayat of Adam. Regarding the transport, communications and information technology sector, His Excellency pointed out that the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology focused on completing and starting a number of road projects in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate to ensure the provision of world-class infrastructure and linking the components of the logistics sector and other sectors, to maximize the desired benefit from them and maintain the quality of roads and their advanced global classification within the priority of developing governorates and sustainable cities in the “Oman 2040” vision, indicating that the Ministry is close to completing the project to add the third and fourth lanes on the Rusayl/Nizwa Road (Russayl-Bidbid), and starting to complete the remaining works of the Saih Qatna Road project in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, and starting the project to rehabilitate some of the affected parts of the Bidbid-Nizwa Road and awarding the construction works of box culverts in the Wilayat of Adam.

His Excellency the Governor of Al Dakhiliyah explained that among the important projects that have been awarded are the dualization of the (Farq – Heritage District – Izki) road, the Jabal Shams road, and the Aqbat Afri road in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, and reaching the final stages of the consultancy study for the dualization of the Nizwa-Bahla road project (Marfaa Daris – Jabreen) in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate after completion, and reviewing the final designs necessary for its construction, indicating that a project has been awarded to maintain asphalt roads in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate. Work is underway to carry out periodic maintenance and address the damage to road components in order to preserve the assets of the roads and their sustainability.