By Hasan Kamoonpuri - MUSCAT — Omran, which is mandated by the Government of Oman to deliver major projects and manage tourism assets and investments, boasts a line-up of more than 10 massive projects that will go a long way in raising the profile of the Sultanate’s tourism sector.
Among the many Omran projects is the City Hotel at Shatti al Qurum, envisaging a 5-star resort hotel with 250 rooms, a five-star business hotel with 350 rooms, and 100 service apartments, which is currently under the master planning phase. The City Hotel is expected to be up and running by 2013, Abdul Wahid al Farsi, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Omran, told the Observer.
The Fort Hotel, 25 km south east of Muscat International Airport, envisages a 5-star boutique hotel, 120 guest suites, and restaurant and spa facility, is currently under design stage. The Fort Hotel is scheduled to be up and running by the end of 2013.
The Duqm Hotel project, a 4-star business hotel, 7 km from Duqm in the south west of Oman, envisages 230 rooms, a large business centre and conference facilities, is currently under mobilisation stage and is scheduled to be open by 2012.
The Jabal al Akhdar Hotel, 5-star resort hotel, 150 km from Muscat International Airport, envisages 80 suite rooms, spa suites and a cliff side restaurant and a pool, is currently under design stage. It is expected to be up and running by the end of 2013.
The master-planner and developer for the project, Omran, was established by the government to deliver major real estate, hospitality and joint venture projects across Oman, in support of the nation’s long term economic strategy, ‘Vision 2020’, which sees tourism sector as a key contributor. It has just completed its first major project, the site for the Muscat Asian Beach Games 2010, which was handed over to the Games organisers in November.