11/05/2026 09:46 AST
The 21st edition of Oman Real Estate, Design & Build Exhibition and Conference 2026 commenced on Sunday at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), taking place from 10 to 13 May.
The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Sultan Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance.
The event is organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Oman Real Estate Association, and Connect Company.
The event saw broad participation from ministers, senior officials, real estate developers, investors, experts, and leading local and international companies specialising in real estate development, urban planning, design, and construction.
As Oman's real estate and urban development sectors are witnessing accelerated momentum and transformative growth aligned with national objectives, the conference and exhibition serves as a key gathering point for industry stakeholders, fostering strategic partnerships, unlocking broader investment opportunities, and reinforcing Oman's growing position on the regional real estate and urban development landscape.
The conference provides a strategic platform to showcase major urban projects and national initiatives related to future cities and integrated communities, while highlighting promising investment opportunities and strengthening public-private sector collaboration to support business growth and sustainable urban development. Meanwhile, the accompanying exhibition offers visitors and prospective buyers the opportunity to explore a diverse portfolio of real estate projects and residential developments presented by leading developers, alongside comprehensive insights into project details, services, and financing solutions.
The opening ceremony witnessed the announcement of a package of strategic agreements and projects linked to Oman's future cities, led by Sultan Haitham City. The Ministry signed a partnership and development agreement for residential neighbourhoods (3, 15, and 17) with Retal Urban Development Company from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The project spans more than 640,000 square metres, with an investment value exceeding OMR320 million, reflecting growing confidence in Oman's major urban developments and the strong investment appeal of its future cities.
Sultan Haitham City also saw the awarding of the first package (A) for site preparation and leveling works for the neighbourhoods and the Eastern Boulevard to Al Tasnim Group, with an investment value of OMR6.8 million.
The 12th package for the construction of external roads, bridges, underpasses, and utility works connecting Muscat Expressway to Sultan Haitham City was awarded to Strabag Oman, with a value exceeding OMR40 million.
The 9th package (A) for landscaping and horticulture works along roads and pedestrian pathways was awarded to GDS Company, with an investment value exceeding OMR3 million.
These agreements reflect the accelerated pace of implementation and the continued development of the project's infrastructure in line with the highest urban and engineering standards.
The ceremony also witnessed the awarding of a consultancy tender for supervision services related to developers' construction works, with an investment value exceeding OMR3 million, in collaboration with Al Khatib & Al Almi. The agreement comes as part of advancing the project's execution phase, while enhancing quality standards and technical governance across development projects.
During the opening ceremony, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Artas Holding of Türkiye for the development of the Al Khuwair Downtown Project, in a step that reinforces the transformation of the project into a modern economic and urban hub at the heart of Muscat.
The opening ceremony also witnessed the signing of five agreements for the development of integrated residential neighborhoods across the governorates of Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah, South Al Batinah, and North & South Al Sharqiyah, with a total investment value exceeding OMR123 million. The projects will deliver 2,167 residential units as part of the "Sorouh" Initiative, which aims to develop sustainable and diverse urban communities across the Sultanate of Oman.
The first agreement is for the development of an integrated residential neighbourhood spanning more than 454,000 square metres in the Wilayat of Al Hamra, comprising 322 residential units, with an investment value of approximately OMR16 million, developed by Ejad Engineering Consultancy.
The second agreement is for the development of a residential neighbourhood in the Wilayat of Al Amerat spanning over 300,000 square metres, comprising 1,006 residential units, with an investment value of OMR62 million, developed by Al Masa Real Estate.
The 3rd agreement is for the development of a residential neighbourhood in the Wilayat of Jalan Bani Bu Hassan, covering more than 320,000 square metres, comprising 312 residential units, with an investment value of OMR15 million and developed by Siraj Investment Company.
Meanwhile, the fourth agreement is for the development of a residential neighbourhood spanning more than 80,000 square metres in the Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid, comprising 118 residential units, with an investment value of OMR6 million, developed by Sana'a Al Barq Cement Products & Trading.
The fifth agreement is for the development of a residential neighbourhood covering more than 432,000 square metres in the Wilayat of Al Musannah, comprising 409 residential units, with an investment value of OMR24 million. The project will be developed by Al Raed Investment Company.
As part of the same initiative, the event also announced six new investment opportunities for the development of integrated residential neighbourhoods and master-plans across four governorates, covering a total area exceeding 1.4 million square metres in strategically selected locations. The targeted governorates include North Al Batinah, Al Buraimi, Al Dakhiliyah and South Al Batinah.
This reflects the balanced distribution of development projects across the Sultanate of Oman and reinforces public-private sector partnerships in advancing modern and integrated housing communities.
As part of its social responsibility initiatives, the opening ceremony witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning and Dar Al Atta'a Association to collaborate on social housing projects and provide safe housing for eligible families.
The agreement builds on the success achieved through the "Al Atta'a Neighbourhood 1" project in Al Khabourah and includes the implementation of "Al Atta'a Neighbourhoods 2 & 3" in Al Amerat, comprising 20 housing units. It also includes the launch of the initiative to deliver 25 homes across various wilayats in the Sultanate of Oman.
The initiative reflects the importance of collaboration between government entities and community institutions in supporting social stability and enhancing quality of life.
The opening ceremony also witnessed the launch of several waqf (endowment) investment opportunities by Oman Endowment Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, through the "Tatwir" Platform.
The initiative operates within a structured governance framework that promotes transparency, integration, and clear investment procedures, contributing to improved efficiency in managing endowment assets while maximising their economic and social impact.
Alongside the launch of Oman Real Estate Conference 2026, the "Ruwad" Programme continues its training activities at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre through specialised sessions covering real estate apartment marketing, professional real estate brokerage and relationship-building and deal-making
The programme includes 45 participants from architecture and planning disciplines, as well as job seekers, aiming to equip national talent with the skills needed to meet the demands of the modern real estate market. Participants receive training in sales and negotiation skills, modern digital tools, Omani architectural identity, design innovation and freelancing opportunities within the real estate and urban sectors.
At the same time, the "Itqan" Programme for IT capacity building was launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, involving more than 50 participants selected from over 830 applicants. The programme focuses on, innovation and digital transformation, smart technology solutions supporting housing and urban planning and Intensive workshops and training camps.
The conference features a specialised knowledge programme comprising more than 50 panel discussions and working papers, with participation from over 95 local and international speakers, including officials, decision-makers, developers, architects, and industry experts. Sessions focus on global and regional real estate trends, urban planning and investment, PropTech and real estate technologies construction and urban development best practices.
Times of Oman
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