Sultan Haitham City has moved from masterplan to construction site. Phase one infrastructure contracts covering roads, utilities and district cooling for the first six neighbourhoods were awarded this month, with mobilisation beginning before the end of the year.
What is being built first
The first phase delivers roughly 5,300 homes across a mix of apartments, townhouses and detached villas, alongside four schools, two health centres and a central park corridor. Plots sit inside a 14.8 sq km site west of Al Seeb, connected to the Batinah Expressway and around 25 minutes from Muscat International Airport.
- Neighbourhoods one to three: mid-rise apartments and townhouses from 95 sqm.
- Neighbourhoods four to six: villa plots and low-density clusters.
- A designated investment zone with freehold title available to non-Omani buyers.
Why expat buyers are watching
Unlike the coastal Integrated Tourism Complexes, Sultan Haitham City allocates specific parcels for foreign freehold ownership under the urban development framework. Buyers in those parcels receive a title deed in their own name rather than a usufruct right, which matters for resale and for mortgage eligibility at Omani banks.
Pricing guidance released with the tender documents puts entry-level apartments in the first release at 78,000 to 110,000 OMR, with villas starting near 165,000 OMR. Payment plans are expected to follow the 10/70/20 model now common in Muscat: ten percent on booking, seventy percent across construction, twenty percent on handover.
What buyers should verify
Ask for the escrow account number before signing anything. Under MoHUP rules, construction instalments on off-plan sales must route through a certified escrow account tied to the project. Confirm the developer holds a valid project licence, and check whether the specific unit sits inside a foreign-ownership parcel rather than a restricted one.
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