Muscat – At the  Ministry’s Investment and Development Forum, which was held recently under the theme of ‘Seize life opportunities’, H. E. Dr Khalfan bin Said al Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, announced that foreigners will be granted 99-year usufruct rights to own properties in the new future cities.

He pointed out that the Ministry is working on the development plans of future city projects like the Greater Muscat, Greater Nizwa, Greater Salalah and Greater Sohar. As per the plans, these projects will involve the allocation of approximately 30 – 40 million square meters of land in the wilayats of Salalah, Nizwa and Sohar to implement modern cities with a total of around 40,000 housing units.

The government has also introduced the National Initiative for Integrated Residential Neighbourhoods – Sorouh programme – comprising nine development sites, of which three are currently under implementation, three under construction and three ready for investment.

Sultan Haitham City, designed as a future city, will encompass six residential neighbourhoods; the City has signed 20 agreements worth over OMR 1.2 billion.

H. E. Shuaili added that Oman Development Bank has announced financing options for construction contracts in Sultan Haitham City as well as other future projects involving Omani youth.