Muscat Municipality issues a planning to the commercial activities in residential buildings
The municipal council of Muscat Governorate approved its recommendations because of the exploitation of residential buildings for commercial use; as part of the council pursuit to find a suitable plan achieving the balance between urban and commercial growth in the Governorate of Muscat and setting controls and legislation governing this field. The Council had received a set of complaints concerning the phenomena caused by those activities in the residential neighborhoods such as the traffic jam, noise and other effects and changes created by the current developments.
The decision allowed to residential buildings using the commercial purposes, Governmental entities offices and the headquarters of embassies in Muscat Governorate according to certain situations, such as the old Muttrah due to the its commercial and tourism nature, the presence of Muttrah market, the state of Muscat. It also allowed exercising a set of activities in the residential buildings housing at all Muscat streets, such as kindergartens, institutes, the activities related to people with special needs, private schools, schools for teaching Quran, the embassies of the countries which have large communities in the Sultanate except the consulates and beauty salons for women to ensure the women`s privacy on condition the owner be Omani female citizen, as well as the activity is registered within the General Authority for small and medium enterprises.
The decision explained the controls that must be provided to allow the exercise of commercial activities in residential buildings; it included the signing of a pledge by the landlord and tenant in the Directorate which the property is located, and the existence of enough parking for workers and auditors according to the activity nature. But regarding to the names of those streets as contained in the declaration of Muscat Municipality No. (21/2016) issued in the local newspapers as follows: in the state major Muttrah, Alghadamat St. from the municipal mosque to the intersection between Albosor stores and Alwadi Alkabber area, AlFarahidi St. from international tower hotel to Haffa House in Momtaz area, Alghadamat road in Wadi Adai, the internal road of Muttrah area, the long road from port neighborhood to Port Sultan Qaboos roundabout in Muttrah area (North lane), and Alghadamat St. services from Shell station to the municipal mosque.
But Seeb state, Mazoon St. from Alheel roundabout to the Mosque roundabout, Albarakat St. from the intersection between Alkhudh St. to Seeb stadium, the street that connects between Mosque roundabout and Alazhar roundabout in Mawalleh South , the street which starts from Alazhar roundabout prosperity to the intersection of Altameer st. in Mawalleh South, Alsoror St. from Almawalleh bridge to Alghawd bridge in Hail South, the street that connects between Aleshraq roundabout and Alrawda roundabout in Hail North , the street which connects Alnozhah roundabout to the first industrial roundabout in Mabela South.
In Qurayyat state, the main street from farwell and welcoming panel to the fort of state, Dghamr St. from Alwelaya roundabout to Dghamr Hager, Ghaf St.from Oman Oil Station to Alshare`a station, Sahel St. from the port to Algazera in Sahel, Misfah St. from the farms entrance to Misfah , and the main street from Dabab to Fens.
In Al-Amerat state, Seeh-Alzabe and wadi Hatat Streets. But in Bowshar state, Anwar and Azaieba strrets in Azaiba North, November 18, Deyafa and Safah streets in Ghabra North. Railway No. (3709) behind the Directorate General of Muscat Municipality in Bowshar, July 23 St. in Ghabra South, Maha, college, Khuwair South streets, Douht adab in Khuwair, Inshirah St. in Sultan Qaboos City, Gharegia St. in Sarooj neighborhood, old Ansab St. extending from Maha Station to the end of the new street in Ansab. But in Bowshar, the streets are Baida St. which connects the roundabout of Muscat private Hospital to Al-Amerat roundabout, street Sih- Almaleh St. Karm roundabout St. in front of the natural park, and Fahed St.
During the past years, it is recalled that Muscat Municipality allowed for some residential buildings for practicing the commercial activities due to the increasing request and keeping pace with the economic and commercial movement in the Governorate of Muscat particularly. Opening new branches in Muscat Governorate helped the local companies to find investment offices, and opened the investment field for foreign companies. It is noted that not small percentage of those companies preferred to take a location for their offices from the residential buildings which are stationed on the main streets, resulted in using residential buildings for commercial purposes, despite the negative effects for the residents of these buildings nearby. Therefore, this matter requires finding a planning for organization.