Participants in the Provincial Ambassadors Forum today conducted field visits to several vital projects in Muscat Governorate. These included Sultan Haitham City, the Omani Botanical Garden, the Ansab–Jafnain Road Dualization Project, and the Green Walkway. During the visits, the ambassadors were briefed on the major features of Sultan Haitham City, which spans over 14 million square meters and is designed to accommodate around 100,000 residents. The city includes 20,000 residential units spread across 19 fully serviced neighborhoods, along with educational, healthcare, and community facilities.
The program also featured a visit to the Omani Botanical Garden, one of the largest environmental projects in the Arab world. Located in the Wilayat of Seeb, the garden covers an area of 430 hectares and includes all types of native Omani plant species.
The ambassadors also inspected the Ansab–Jafnain Road Dualization Project, a major infrastructure development aimed at enhancing Muscat’s road network. The project extends 15 kilometers from Falaj Al-Sham in the Wilayat of Bausher to Jafnain, featuring three lanes in each direction.
Another stop was the Green Walkway Project in South Al Maabela, which spans approximately 152,000 square meters and includes various sports and recreational facilities.
During the visits, participants viewed several visual presentations highlighting other ongoing projects such as the Rifq Center for the Care and Rehabilitation of Stray Animals, the Al Amerat Trail Project, the Flagpole Project, and the Yiti Sustainable City Project—all aimed at showcasing the diversity of initiatives and operational models in the governorate.
Eng. Raw’a bint Ali Al Shaqsi, Head of Tenders and Contracts at the Office of the Governor of South Al Batinah, stated that the forum opened up avenues for benefiting from the academic and practical expertise of specialists and participants from across the governorates, helping to overcome challenges in government projects.
Eng. Shaikha bint Ahmed Al Wahshiya from Al Dhahirah Governorate described the experience as “a successful step with tangible impact,” noting that the transition from theoretical discussions to real-world observations was inspiring. She praised the planning and execution of Sultan Haitham City and the Omani Botanical Garden, calling the visit “an inspiring experience and a practical vision of achievable progress and innovation in institutional and public service work.”
Eng. Anfal bint Issa Al Hamdaniya from South Al Batinah Governorate said the field visit revealed the key features of Sultan Haitham City and the successful public-private partnerships involved. She highlighted the country’s ongoing development across various sectors.
Sulaiman Al Shaibani from Al Dakhiliyah Governorate remarked:
“The forum is an important platform for enhancing cooperation and synergy among governorates. It marks a qualitative step towards establishing the concept of participatory institutional work and reflects the direction toward supporting administrative decentralization and empowering governorates to play their developmental roles efficiently and transparently. This gathering provided a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and explore pioneering projects in Muscat Governorate, enriching our understanding of on-the-ground operations and future development paths. We look forward to the continuation of such quality initiatives due to their direct positive impact on the quality of government performance and the promotion of balanced development.”