Al Duqm’s New Tourism Zone: A Game-Changer for Coastal Real Estate and Investment Opportunities in Oman
MUSCAT: The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) has unveiled a comprehensive masterplan to develop a Tourism Zone that integrates luxury hotels, residences, mixed-use areas, retail spaces, adventure attractions, and leisure facilities. This initiative aims to complement Al Duqm’s established industrial character with a dynamic lifestyle element.
Presented at the Duqm Economic Forum 2025 by an international consortium of consultants appointed by SEZAD, the ambitious plan covers approximately 35 square kilometers and stretches along 16 kilometers of pristine beachfront.
Romil Sheth, Principal Urban Designer and Partner at Sasaki—a globally recognized architecture, planning, landscape, and design firm—highlighted the guiding principles shaping Duqm’s transformation into a “dynamic and vibrant hub.”
“Al Duqm is very special,” Sheth said. “Its identity is deeply anchored in history, culture, and ecology, shaped by its unique water and terrain features. The area boasts a robust economic base with its port, logistics, and energy sectors, alongside emerging leadership in sustainable energy. These elements are vital for creating a green and sustainable city. The coastal zone we are masterplanning spans about 3,700 hectares and includes 16 kilometers of uninterrupted waterfront ready for development.”
Sheth also emphasized Al Duqm’s striking natural landscape, featuring iconic rock formations, white sandy beaches, dramatic vistas, and elevated plateaus that enhance both connectivity and value.
“We aim to harness these exceptional natural conditions to create a destination that is both distinctive and authentic to Al Duqm,” he added. “Combined with natural wadis and a pleasant climate, our vision is to establish a unique lifestyle destination within the city.”
The masterplan focuses on providing diverse housing and lifestyle options to residents, investors, and relocated workers, capitalizing on the coastal environment to attract a variety of hospitality developments.
“We want to create an iconic waterfront that is open and welcoming to everyone,” Sheth noted. “Public accessibility is paramount—ensuring engagement through entertainment, cafés, restaurants, retail outlets, water sports, and a continuous pedestrian promenade that links all these experiences.”
The design also embraces the natural terrain to support health, wellness, and ecotourism activities that encourage outdoor living and sustainability.
Central to the zone will be a striking city center, anchored by a marina envisioned as a cultural and entertainment hub for both Al Duqm and Oman, destined to become a regional attraction. Surrounding this centerpiece are planned adventure and leisure activities including camel and horse racing, windsurfing, sailing, kite surfing, and diving.
To support this vibrant environment, the masterplan calls for comprehensive residential and community infrastructure, including quality schools, community centers, and mixed-use developments serving as public activity hubs. These hubs will be connected along a pedestrian-friendly promenade that unifies the entire coastal area. The plan intentionally favors low- to mid-rise buildings to preserve the natural skyline, deliberately avoiding high-rise structures.
Additionally, the masterplan outlines a phased development roadmap, with key milestones targeted for 2030 and a long-term vision extending to 2070. Beyond the waterfront, the unique topography of the plateau will enable the development of eco-lodges and nature-based experiences that celebrate Al Duqm’s environment and promote year-round outdoor activities.
This visionary project signals a significant step toward positioning Al Duqm as a vibrant, sustainable, and culturally rich destination on Oman’s coastline.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The Duqm Tourism Zone masterplan represents a strategic shift towards integrating lifestyle and leisure with industrial growth, opening vast opportunities for businesses in hospitality, real estate, and eco-tourism. Smart investors should capitalize on the phased development roadmap to enter early into luxury and adventure tourism sectors, while entrepreneurs can leverage the plan’s emphasis on sustainability and community-centric experiences to build innovative ventures. However, preserving the natural environment while scaling will be key to maintaining the zone’s unique appeal and long-term viability.
