Oman's Al Mouj Muscat plans more hotels

Oman-headquartered master developer Al Mouj Muscat is planning to expand the hospitality component of its mixed-use development of the same name, the company CEO said. 

Two hotels - the 400-key Kempinski Al Mouj Muscat and the 200-key Mysk Al Mouj Muscat - are currently operational within the 2.5 million-square metre master development, which is a public-private venture between the Omani government and the United Arab Emirates’ Majid Al Futtaim Properties.

“We will be announcing a 300-key five-star hotel project before the end of the year and are in advanced discussions for another hotel that would give us 200-300 keys,” Nasser Al Sheibani told Thomson Reuters Projects on the sidelines of Cityscape Global event in Dubai last week.

Sheibani said another two are under planning, but didn’t give any further details. He pointed out that construction of a 250-key Rotana hotel and serviced apartments project, announced last year, would start in October. The news brings the total number of hotels planned for the development to seven.

In April 2017, Rotana had announced that it has signed a management agreement with Omani business group Golden Group Holding (GGH) to manage Al Mouj Rayhaan by Rotana property in Muscat.

Al Mouj Muscat, formerly known as The Wave, Muscat, is also one of the first Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) projects in the Sultanate.

The Al Mouj CEO said tourism is one of the key pillars of Oman’s economic diversification strategy, and the project would play “a big part in delivering that vision by supplying 1,800 hotel rooms into the Muscat market.”

Sheibani said the project has achieved 50 percent completion with regard to the master plan, noting that the company is set to achieve a handover milestone of 2,000 units this year.

“Currently, we have more than 700 units under construction, and would be delivering 500 units during the year,” he said.

The development of the rest of the master plan, he said, would be guided by ‘placemaking,’ which, according to a recent company statement, uses data and analytics to understand customers and tailor the products accordingly. 

“We are going to bring in an international school, entertainment and wellness elements, and commercial offices so that you can live, play and work here,” said Sheibani without elaborating further.

He pointed out that the freehold development is currently home to 8,000 residents from 70 nationalities.

According to a recent press statement, the waterfront project features a 6-kilometre stretch of Muscat’s coastline, an 18-hole golf course, a 400-berth marina, a public square and a mall with over 70 shopping and dining outlets and the entire development is anticipated to reach completion by 2024.

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