Greater Muscat is the Sultanate of Oman’s prime economic area, nestled between the Arabian Sea and the Hajar Mountains, with 1.5 million residents dispersed along its 100km coastline.

Over the next 15 years, the population of Muscat is expected to reach almost 2.7m people, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning commissioned Broadway Malyan to devise a viable plan as a basis for enhanced governance, future growth and resilient development of liveable and sustainable neighbourhoods.

The plan focuses on compact development by increasing population densities in better-connected areas, aiming to reduce urban sprawl. It promotes the creation of well-defined serviced urban districts with a clear purpose, identity and strong connection to their surroundings. Robust economic development will be achieved by creating 19 new employment clusters, supporting Muscat’s growth to 890,000 jobs by 2040, and driving a shift toward a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy.

The strategy behind the Greater Muscat Structure Plan aims to address a range of key challenges facing Muscat today and in the future, including uncontrolled urban sprawl, a significant shift in population demographics, its economic reliance on the petro-dollar, and its vulnerability to the impact of climate change.

Oman currently has the sixth-highest carbon emissions per capita ratios in the world, and Muscat is one of the most car-dependent cities globally, with 92% of all trips done by car. At the same time, its geography means Muscat is one of the most exposed cities in the world to the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

At the heart of the urban sprawl issue is the country’s gifted land system, allowing unchecked urban expansion without the supporting infrastructure, both in terms of transportation, including employment opportunities and amenities.

During the 18-month study period for the development of the Greater Muscat Structure Plan, more than 3,000 existing reports were reviewed, 4.2 terabytes of data were coordinated using GIS, and more than 4,000 residents participated in an extensive stakeholder consultation process using the interactive Maptionnaire tool.

There was also an ongoing public dialogue with officials from across various ministries through large-scale events and workshops, a process that continues leading up to the planned formal adoption of the plan in the summer of 2025.

We will be presenting the Muscat Structure Plan live at WAF 2025 in Miami this November.

Congratulations to the project team:

• Client: Oman Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning
• Technical Lead: Broadway Malyan
• Contract Holder/Local Liaison: F&M
• Transport: Mobility in Chain
• Infrastructure: Cundall
• Socio-economic development: Pegasys Group