MUSCAT: Oman’s Urban October 2026 exhibition and conference concluded on Thursday after attracting more than 60,000 visitors and recording over 230 agreements, memoranda of understanding and tender awards, according to a statement issued at the close of the event.

Held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 5 to 8, the four-day event brought together government agencies, property developers, financial institutions and urban planning specialists to discuss housing, investment and the future of cities.

Participants came from more than 50 countries. The exhibition featured over 200 pavilions and more than 65 real estate developers, while the conference included over 90 speakers and more than 100 papers.

The agreements included 197 usufruct contracts, which grant rights to use land. Of these, 85 covered food security projects, 30 were signed in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, and 82 related to auctions conducted through the Tatweer platform.

Other agreements covered real estate, tourism and education developments, housing assistance and partnerships between lenders and property developers.

Developers and banks also signed agreements to advance projects, provide financing and facilitate property ownership, the statement said. It did not disclose the combined value of the deals.

Discussions on the final day focused on the future of housing in Oman, inclusive urban design and the development of connected communities. Government officials, academics and industry specialists examined how housing could be planned alongside services, infrastructure and public spaces.

Sessions also addressed urban renewal and the preservation of architectural identity, including lessons for Muscat and a case study from Bahrain.

Marwa Nabeel, head of licensing and engineering services at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, presented a paper on shaping cities while preserving their identity. A separate presentation by Dr. Ali Jaafar Al Lawati examined changes in Muscat governorate’s visual identity over four decades.

The programme also featured Madayn’s “Imara” urban development guide, covering planning, construction and infrastructure development in industrial cities.

The closing ceremony included the graduation of 20 participants from the fourth cohort of the first phase of “Rafid”, a national capacity-building programme for smart cities.

The programme ran from April 5 to July 22 in partnership with more than 10 local and international organisations.

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