New projects will add to the offerings of Salalah

The Dhofar governorate’s second ITC has been planned for the historic town of Mirbat, which is just an hour’s drive from Salalah.

This world-class, high-end development will be situated on the Mirbat waterfront, and will feature a mix of residential and entertainment facilities, including a marina capable of docking up to 75 watercraft, a five-star hotel that offers 534 furnished apartments and 300 rooms, a golf course, and as many as 1,500 apartments and villas, to be rolled out in five phases.

It will be managed by the Dhofar Tourism Company, an organisation listed on the Muscat Securities Market.

In addition, Omran will be overseeing the construction of the Alila hotel group’s second resort in Oman, which is to be based in Mirbat, with Shaza hotels also currently developing a property in Salalah.

All this will only add to Salalah’s current offerings, which are much loved by visitors who come to Oman to explore the Sultanate’s rich tradition and culture.

Frankincense trade

Salalah was once the beating heart of the global frankincense trade, with the famed resin being shipped as far as ancient Rome and China.

The former trade centre of Al Baleed, together with other frankincense sites such as Samharam, Khor Rori and Wadi Dawka, are now listed as UNESCO heritage sites, one of four in the nation.

With a reported 98 per cent hotel occupancy rate across Oman’s tourism offerings, Omran is also committed to expanding their current facilities to welcome more visitors to these destinations.

“We have invested $300 million in Oman and this is our second largest presence in the world, after Switzerland,” noted Samih Sawiris, chairman for Orascom Development Holding. “We did not take this land to just sell it on to someone else or to sleep on it. We will continue to add 100 to 200 rooms all the time and will continue to develop Salalah until we have fulfilled our mandate,” he added.