Madinat Al Irfan, Oman

Madinat al Irfan, by Arup, will form an important new urban district for Muscat that embraces Omani culture and heritage and will provide a new tourist and visitor destination.

The 640ha site is located adjacent to the international airport and will create a new mixed-use downtown area for the Muscat capital region. This large-scale project will help the growth in the region by creating a new business and tourist destination, supporting the government’s goal for economic diversification.

The project will also represent a major step towards the future of city design within the country. Design principles and standards are expected to set a new development model for resilient city masterplanning across the Sultanate and wider region in years to come. The project will respond to the rich Omani culture, dramatic landscape setting and arid desert climate through a range of contemporary and traditional design strategies.