(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman and Qatar on Wednesday signed a pact to develop 1.85mn sq m area of the eco-themed Ras al Hadd tourism project in South Sharqiyah at a cost of RO250mn.
The three-phase project will see construction of an eco-themed resort hotel and residential villas a souq a dedicated centre for wildlife preservation observation park and a new market area.
The pact was signed between the government of Oman and Qatari Diar Ras al Hadd Development Company a newly established entity that is jointly owned by Omran and Qatari Diar Company. Omran holds 30 per cent stake in the company. H E Ahmed bin Nasser bin Hamad al Mehrzi Minister of Tourism and a board member of Omran represented the Omani side while Ali Shareef al Emadi the Qatar Minister of Finance and chairman of Qatari Diar Company signed on behalf of the Qatari delegation.
The signing ceremony was attended by Sultan bin Salim al Habsi secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Planning
H E Darwish bin Ismail bin Ali al Balushi Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs and deputy chairperson of Omran Eng Wael al Lawati CEO of Omran and other dignitaries.
The Qatari delegation included H E Abdullah Mohammed al Khatter the Qatari Ambassador to Oman and Khalid Mohammed al Sayed group CEO of Qatari Diar. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2018. It will include a 100 room eco-resort 50 hotel villas 150 residential villas and a souq that will be spread over 7000sq m.
H E Mehrzi said 'The project forms part of a comprehensive strategy to develop Oman's tourism sector. This strategy aligns with the Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said a focus that looks at balancing new developments to cover the different regions of the sultanate in a sustainable manner.'
Eng Lawati said 'We are pleased to work with Qatari Diar Company. Ras al Hadd has a fantastic growth potential as a destination for local regional and international tourists to discover the stunning wildlife of the region and to experience the history and hospitality of Omani culture.'
Emadi said 'The project marks only the beginning of a new chapter of cooperation in the tourism sector between Qatar and Oman.'
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