For utilization duration (50) years
Muscat Municipality invests (16.763 m2) to establish a modern hotel and amusement park in Al Khuwair
• 15.500.000 Omani Riyals are the value of the project without incurring any costs for the Municipality.
• Establishing a hotel (4-stars accommodation) includes 232 rooms with modern facilities.
• A public park inspired by the Omani environment elements serving all segments of society.
Written by: Ibrahim al-Hassani
Photography: Suleiman Al-Khasibi
On Monday morning, Muscat Municipality and Muscat National Company for Development and Investment (ASSAS) signed an investment agreement for investing the land of Municipal which is located in the second phase at Al Khuwair region; its area 16.763 m2 for (50) years as utilization duration in order to build a hotel (4-stars) and modern amusement park at an estimated cost 15,000,500 OMR. Hilton Garden Inn Company related to the global Hilton Brand will manage and operate this project.
HE Eng. Mohsen bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh Chairman of Muscat Municipality and Eng. Khalid bin Hilal Al-Yahmadi CEO of Muscat National Company for Development and Investment (ASSAS) signed the agreement in the presence of number of the two parties `officials.
This agreement is the first agreement to be signed with the private sector in order to establish a public park without incurring Muscat Municipality any financial costs. It stated that the company "ASSAS" will develop the public park according to the specifications and designs adopted by the municipality on being the park be separated from the hotel and serves all segments of society. The contract also states that the company bears the costs of maintenance and cleaning of the park, its facilities and any other expenses throughout the contract duration.
The agreement is a part of Muscat Municipality efforts to enhancing revenues, diversifying the sources of income, contributing in the fields of sustainable development, creating job opportunities for the national cadres and the establishment of promising projects inside Muscat governorate in collaboration with the private sector. HE Eng. Chairman of Muscat Municipality previously indicated the importance of hiring some consulting firms to determine the best use of municipal land and prepare economical feasibility studies for the proposed projects on this land studies. Also he noted the importance of private sector participation, in addition to the Governmental retirement funds and governmental investment companies in implementing these investment projects.
4- Stars Hotel
The project includes establishing 3-Stars and 7 stories hotel on an area of (4.278 m2) at Douht Adab St. in Khuwair. The construction works started in the site last February. The hotel will receive its guests during the first quarter of the year 2019 AD, including 232 rooms, a number of halls and corridors; it will be an architecturally edifice adding more of aesthetic and modernity in region. The hotel has been designed to benefit from the modern architecture techniques in order to minimize the infringement on the privacy of the neighboring buildings and homes; it will include facilities for meetings, a business center operating around the clock, a variety of restaurants and facilities specialized in desserts and snacks and 140 parking dedicated for vehicles.
A modern amusement park
It is located in the front of hotel on an area (12.487 m2) , contained a diverse set of recreational, sport and natural facilities, including a public place, wide square decorated with fountains and water basins, green spaces, children`s playground, passageways for practicing sport, in addition to another department for public restaurants. The location will be inspired by Omani heritage and characterized with Omani environments elements; it will include mountainous hills cleaved by narrow canals (Falaj) and aligned with small trees, flowers, a number of open ponds, and aesthetic fountains.
The park adjacent hotel will contribute improving the quality of life for residents in the area, creating recreational green spaces and set of modern facilities and other services with a view to bring more vitality to the site. In addition, a footbridge will connect the park with the neighboring residential area in order to facilitate accessing to the park.
ASSAS Company is the main developer of the project concerning the development and supervision tasks for preparing the hotel and park, as well as finance, marketing, and asset management tasks. The company will ensure achieving high quality and implementing the project within the specified time according to the expected financial performance.
It is worth to be mentioned, Muscat Municipality is a contributor in Muscat National Company for Development and Investment (ASSAS), which was founded in 2014 through a joint cooperation between several other governmental entities. The main objective of the company since its starting work represents in enhancing the national revenue to non-oil sectors by identifying new investment opportunities and smart solutions with a view to meet the needs of citizens and residents in the Sultanate and rise live quality for individuals and communities.
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