Foundation stone laid for Ashkharah Waterfront Tourism Project
Dr Yahya bin Badr al Maawali, Governor of Al Sharqiyah South, stated that the project forms part of the governorate's broader strategy to boost natural and tourism resources, in line with the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
Aimed at achieving sustainable and integrated urban development, Al Ashkharah Waterfront is envisioned as a modern tourism destination that respects environmental sensitivity while elevating the area's appeal for both residents and visitors.
Spanning an area of 74,172 square metres, with 4,140 square metres of built-up space, the project includes a 1,860-metre main promenade and 1,800 metres of designated walking, running and cycling paths.
It also features green zones harmoniously integrated across the site. The project will offer a wide range of service and recreational amenities including sea-facing restaurants and cafes, shaded seating areas, a dedicated children's play zone, watchtowers, guard rooms and multi-use canopies of varying designs.
Reflecting Omani cultural and architectural character while incorporating modern lighting and accessibility, the development is expected to stimulate local economic activity and provide investment opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs.
Dr Al Maawali emphasised that the project embodies the governorate's commitment to implementing high-impact initiatives rooted in thoughtful planning. - ONA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
10 minutes ago
- Observer
More than a coat of paint: Rethinking corrosion protection in Oman
Across Oman's energy, marine, and infrastructure sectors, corrosion is a quiet but costly adversary. While cathodic protection systems and smart monitoring technologies play a vital role, the first—and often most critical—line of defense is simpler than it seems: a coat of paint. Or more accurately, a high-performance anti-corrosion coating engineered to withstand one of the harshest environments on Earth. According to the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), corrosion-related economic losses consume between 3% to 5% of GDP in Gulf countries, owing to the region's aggressive combination of high heat, humidity, salt spray, and dust. For Oman, that translates to hundreds of millions of Omani rials annually, with the oil and gas, desalination, and marine infrastructure sectors bearing the brunt of the damage. Globally, corrosion is estimated to cost over $2.5 trillion each year—but experts believe that up to 35% of these losses are preventable with proactive measures such as improved coatings, local standards, and QA/QC procedures. As Oman strengthens its industrial and coastal infrastructure, there is a growing opportunity to build local expertise in corrosion protection. While many coatings are currently imported, industry assessments across the Gulf show that over 60% of failures stem from application issues—such as poor surface preparation—rather than flaws in the coatings themselves. This highlights a valuable area for improvement: by enhancing training, certification, and local application standards, Oman can ensure that even the most advanced coatings perform to their full potential. Despite the presence of global industry players like Jotun Paints, which operates a manufacturing facility at Rusayl Industrial Estate, and Hempel, which supplies protective coatings to marine and offshore platforms, coating selection across Oman is still too often driven by availability and price rather than performance and environmental fit. Globally, the anti-corrosion coatings market is projected to reach $42 billion by 2028, with the Middle East accounting for a growing share—particularly in oil, gas, and maritime sectors (Statista, 2024). Yet in Oman, many assets are still coated with systems that offer a service life of just 3 to 5 years, especially if not applied under optimal conditions. In contrast, high-performance systems—such as zinc-rich epoxy primers paired with polyurethane topcoats—can extend protection to 7 to 10 years or more, provided they are installed correctly. Oman's geography presents a compelling case for home-grown solutions. Its coastal regions—Suhar, Duqm, Salalah—are prime development zones, but also among the most corrosive environments in the country. Without proper protection, even newly built infrastructure can begin to degrade within months, driving up operating and maintenance costs and compromising safety. Oman's coatings sector may still be developing, but its potential is vast. With targeted investment in accredited testing facilities, specialised training for certified applicators, and Gulf-adapted coating standards, the country has a real opportunity to lead the region in climate-resilient corrosion protection. Experts from AMPP suggest that such measures could recover up to 30% of corrosion-related losses—a substantial return on relatively modest interventions, and a smart step toward long-term savings. While technologies like cathodic protection and real-time corrosion monitoring play vital roles, coatings remain the most accessible, scalable, and cost-effective defense—especially for large, exposed assets such as pipelines, oil tanks, cranes, and marine infrastructure. In Oman's next chapter of industrial growth—from hydrogen hubs to coastal mega-projects—high-performance coatings are more than just a protective layer. They are a strategic enabler. When selected and applied with care, coatings don't just preserve structures—they protect progress, fuel resilience, and extend the value of every investment. In the end, a coat of paint isn't just where protection begins. It's where Oman's leadership in corrosion innovation can take shape.
Observer
13 minutes ago
- Observer
OPAZ named Best Service Outlet in Muscat Governorate for 2024
BUSINESS REPORTER MUSCAT, JULY 29 For the second year in a row, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) has won the award for Best Service Outlet in Muscat Governorate for the year 2024. The award is conferred upon government entities participating in the Institutional Excellence System, in recognition of the Authority's continuous efforts to enhance service quality and strengthen its position in global competitiveness indicators. Dr Ahmed bin Saif al Ma'amari, Acting Customer Services Manager Department at the Authority, stated: "This honour reflects the Authority's commitment to implementing the standards of the Institutional Excellence System, which is one of the key pillars for achieving the goals of Oman Vision 2040. It also reinforces a culture of continuous improvement in the work environment to ensure the delivery of high-quality and efficient services that meet the expectations of investors and beneficiaries." The selection of the Authority was based on the results of surveys and indicators measuring client satisfaction. OPAZ affirms its ongoing efforts to enhance institutional excellence, adopt best practices in service delivery, and achieve top performance levels through innovation and continuous improvement. OPAZ implements high-efficiency practices to serve investors in the special economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities, including: Integrated service representatives, A one-stop platform for all services, continuous care service for investors, strategic project account supervisors, continuous service improvement, comprehensive approvals for strategic projects, fast and defined timelines for request processing, an interactive communication centre, instant approvals to start projects.
Observer
23 minutes ago
- Observer
Oman a strategic choice for green iron: Meranti
MUSCAT, JULY 29 Singapore-headquartered low-carbon steel manufacturer Meranti Green Steel (MGS) is firming up plans to establish a Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) facility at the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Duqm on Oman's southeast coast. Phase 1 of the project targets a production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year of HBI, around 60 per cent of which will be shipped as feedstock for Meranti's proposed green steel plant planned at Rayong in Thailand. The latter project, slated for commissioning in 2028, will produce 2.5 million tonnes per year of hot-rolled steel earmarked for industrial consumers of green steel across Southeast Asia. The remaining 40 per cent of HBI from the Oman project is proposed to be supplied to Meranti's offtake partners distributed around the globe. In a post on Monday, July 29, 2025, Meranti described the Oman project as a 'strategic pillar of its integrated value chain.' It also outlined several reasons for selecting Oman—and Duqm in particular—as the site for its HBI production facility. Chief among these factors, it stated, is access to competitive energy: 'Oman offers reliable, cost-competitive natural gas and a rapidly developing green hydrogen ecosystem. This makes it an ideal location for producing direct reduced iron (DRI) at scale.' Equally significant, Meranti noted, are Duqm's infrastructure and export readiness. 'The Duqm Special Economic Zone provides industrial land, deep-water port access, and efficient permitting frameworks. This supports fast-track development and efficient global distribution.' Additionally, Oman's location enables efficient supply to Meranti's steel plant in Thailand, as well as to European offtakers seeking low-emission hot briquetted iron (HBI). Shipping HBI from Oman improves logistics and lowers emissions compared to traditional supply routes, the company stressed. Earlier this month, Meranti revealed that it had received tentative commitments from the Omani government for the supply of natural gas for the HBI project in Duqm. 'With gas secured and green hydrogen partnerships advancing, Oman is now fully positioned to become a critical enabler of our mission to decarbonize iron and steelmaking,' the company stated in its most recent post. 'We are working closely with Omani authorities and our raw material partner, who are committed to sustainable industrial growth. Their support is foundational to our success,' the company added. A relatively recent entrant into the steel sector in Southeast Asia, Meranti aims to leverage the latest advancements in steelmaking and digital technologies to maintain a competitive edge. A key pillar of this strategy involves establishing geographically decoupled Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) supply chains, sourcing from highly competitive regions such as Oman and Western Australia. This approach enables Meranti to site HBI plants in locations with strong access to competitively priced natural gas and emerging green or blue hydrogen, while situating steel production facilities closer to end-user markets.
