Contract Awarded for RO 45m Al Mouj Road Development: What This Means for Investors and Businesses in Oman
MUSCAT: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has awarded a contract valued at RO 44.94 million to Strabag Oman for the development of Al Mouj Road and its connection to 18 November Street in Muscat.
The agreement was signed on November 9, 2025, by Eng. Khamis bin Mohammed al Shammakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry for Transport, with Strabag Oman represented by Shaikh Hamid bin Abdulqawi al Yafei, CEO.
Eng. Al Shammakhi emphasized that the project aims to enhance road efficiency in Muscat and address traffic congestion issues, particularly in the Al Mouj area and adjacent streets, including 18 November Street, the route to Ishraq Roundabout, Al Hail, and the connection to Al Mawaleh Roundabout in Al Bahja.
He explained that the project focuses on alleviating congestion at key roundabouts without merely shifting traffic problems to subsequent intersections. “For instance, constructing a bridge at Al Mouj Roundabout alone would redirect congestion to other junctions. Therefore, the project was redesigned based on numerical traffic simulation modeling, leading to the current proposed solutions,” he said.
A key feature of the development is an underpass at the roundabout directing traffic to the Civil Aviation Authority, Al Mouj, and Al Bahja in the opposite direction. This tunnel is expected to improve traffic flow, while an elevated roundabout above will manage local traffic distribution. Additionally, the road from Al Mouj to Ishraq will be widened to dual carriageway, and improvements will be made towards Sultan Qaboos Street. These measures collectively aim to resolve existing congestion around Al Mouj.
The Ministry outlined the full scope of the project, which includes: adding a third lane in both directions from Airport Bridge to Al Ishraq Roundabout towards Al Seeb Beach; constructing a bridge and installing four-way traffic signals at Al Mouj Roundabout; building an elevated roundabout and vehicle underpass at Al Bahja Roundabout; converting Al Ishraq Roundabout into a three-way signalised intersection to enable continuous flow towards Al Seeb Beach; adding a third lane between Al Mouj Roundabout and Al Mawaleh Bridge; and constructing two vehicle underpasses for traffic moving from 18 November Street to Al Mawaleh Bridge.
Preparations for construction will commence immediately, with work scheduled to begin within two months. The entire project is expected to take 32 months—30 months for construction plus 2 months for preparations—targeting completion by late 2026 or mid-2028 at the latest. Eng. Al Shammakhi noted that, as is common with urban road projects, sections will be completed and opened gradually.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The RO 44.94 million investment in Al Mouj Road upgrades signals Oman’s strategic commitment to alleviating urban traffic congestion and enhancing transport efficiency in Muscat. For businesses, this creates opportunities in construction, logistics, and real estate development due to improved accessibility and connectivity. Smart investors should monitor phased project completions to capitalize early on emerging commercial and residential zones benefiting from reduced congestion and better infrastructure.
