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To: Frank D.
Thanks for your vision, patience and perseverance.
Did the Usufruct Agreement was signed as well?
What are the next steps to have the land appraised?
Can you post pictures or video in the OMAGINE site of the signing and a detail map of the omagine site?
Thanks
Alan
I think your mistake is here
1m² = 10.764ft²
400000 meters is = 4305600 feet
Hope this helps.
Delongi
Alargan unveils Qurm Hills mega project
Mon, 12 December 2011
By A Staff Reporter - MUSCAT — Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, unveiled the Qurm Hills project of Alargan International Real Estate Company (AIREC) — a Kuwait-based real estate developer — at the site of the project yesterday.
This mega project, which was launched in presence of the Kuwaiti ambassador to the Sultanate, will be constructed on a total land area of 165,000 square metres behind Al Harthy Complex and the Sultan Center. The project boasts of 109 plots, including road networks, service facilities and landscaped park areas. The project will also comprise a variety of residential units and the retail, commercial and office space, it was declared.
In his opening speech, Khaled bin Khuder al Mashaan, Chairman and Managing Director of Alargan International, said: “We are pleased to announce the launch of Qurm Hills, a project which we have meticulously planned to create a new concept in the area which will offer excellent investment opportunities. The Sultanate's vast landscape, bountiful nature, as well as strong governmental planning and support have made an exciting development like this possible. We also have a line up of several other projects in other areas in the Sultanate, will be unveiled in due time”, he declared.
Moreover, to ensure the project adheres to the utmost standards and specifications, Alargan appointed Parsons as the project's design and construction consultants. Also speaking on the occasion, David Mitchell, Operations Manager at Parsons said that: "Qurm Hills is situated in a prime location which enjoys easy accessibility to the main road network and direct connectivity to public utility services. The project's infrastructure has been designed according to the highest standards to ensure the protection of the project site from any possible flooding. This is in addition to the Muscat municipality implementing measures to further enhance the safety of the plots during potential natural disasters.
The real estate sector in the Sultanate has witnessed a significant rise in recent years. The rapid expansion of the construction industry is largely due to government spending and economic diversification, where construction contract awards are expected to grow from an estimated $1,213 million in 2011 to $3,034 million in 2013, it is learnt.
Additionally, Tony Safarian, Chief Marketing Officer, AIREC said: "Efforts to diversify the economy through tourism, new tax and privatisation laws as well as government-endorsed developmental plans, have all led to tremendous growth in the Sultanate's real estate market, thus creating a market-friendly economic environment. Qurm Hills enjoys a prime location in the heart of Muscat and will offer a number of great opportunities."
On the sidelines of the event, a tree was planted in response to His Majesty’s Royal Directive to plant one million date palm trees in the Sultanate. Kuwait-based Alargan International Real Estate Company has had a presence in the Sultanate of Oman since 2003. The company is one of the leading real estate developers in the region with specific focus on facilitating middle-income housing. Alargan has an operating capital of over $95 million and approximately $2.4 billion in assets under management.
Besides, as a result of its excellent track record and success, the company currently has fully operating affiliates in the Kingdoms of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. It has also established development offices in the UK, Egypt and Lebanon.
Oman looks at golf to boost economy and employment
Saleh Al Shaibany
07 December 2011 09:13:47 Oman Time
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The AlMouj Golf Course – designed by the Australian golfing legend Greg Norman – currently has 9-hole facilities but officials say it is expected to be upgraded to 18-holes in April.
“I believe that we have a competitive advantage in golf compared to other Gulf countries. Oman is backed with facilities and people to support the hosting of international golf tournaments,” St John Kelliher, Almouj Golf’s general manager, told Times of Oman.
Travellers from US
Oman attracted more than a million tourists in 2010, 12 per cent more than a year earlier, according to the tourism ministry’s statistics. Most of the tourists in Oman come from Europe, Japan and GCC countries but travellers from the US, too, now find the Sultanate as an attractive destination.
The unrest this year owing to the Arab Spring – in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and even Bahrain – have proved a boon to Oman with tourists spending their winter holidays here, instead of travelling to troubled spotslooking for warmer weather.
They can now find golf an added bonus to their travelling itinerary.
Golfing destination
“We are well on the way to establishing the AlMouj Golf course as a top golfing destination in the Gulf with its unique features. The site next to the airport has a backdrop of magnificent mountain view and a walk way to the beach,”
Kelliher said.
The Mouj Golf Course also has an advantage of being part of the Wave Muscat’s $3 billion property development.
“Owners of the properties at the Wave enjoy the unique experience of being next to a world class golf course. We will soon have floodlights so that members can play in the evening once the course has been expanded to 18-hole,” the GM of the Almouj Golf pointed.
But it is not only about attracting tourism and foreign property buyers to the country. The AlMouj Golf has been built entirely on local products that helped boost local trades and businesses. Kelliher said that its natural landscape has been developed from native species — shrubs, dune grasses and trees.
“We even bought the white marble for the bunkers locally to support Omani products. It is important to buy local goods to capture the Omani experience and heritage. We are also using recycling water to make sure the grass stays green even in the summer,” Kelliher explained.
The sand dunes skirting the golf course, Kelliher said proudly, resemble the jagged Al Hajar Mountain range. The golf course has been built on the basis of conserving the environment with its irrigation lakes, to avoid damaging its natural landscape and wildlife.
“The lake is now attracting a variety of species of birds to give the golf course a natural look. We have Egyptian ducks and even flamingoes flying in here, apart from local birds,” he added.
Oman has already established itself as a bird watching paradise with keen bird watchers travelling thousands of miles to the country for the unique experience all through the year. The Mouj Golf also has an academy to teach golf to beginners, with no obligation to pay the membership fee.
“There are videos which a trainee can watch every shot they have made during the session to learn about the technique and improve their swing. The academy will encourage Omani youngsters to take golfing in our bid to make the sport attractive to the locals,” Kelliher said.
On the economy front, the government is looking to increase its GDP from tourism to 3.5 per cent by the end of 2015, up from 2 per cent in 2011.
There are currently at least 10 golf resort projects in various stages of implementation or approval process in the Sultanate, including the $400 million Muscat Hills, the Egyptian backed Murya Project in Salalah and a golf course in the Omagine project approved earlier this year.
The tourism industry contributed some RO400 million in 2010 and this year the governmentexpects it to go up by at least 7 per cent, while a growth of another 10 per cent is projected in 2012.
The sultan's birthday is coming November 18
HM to preside over National Day parade
The celebrations will coincide with the opening of many development projects both in the government and private sectors - MUSCAT — A military parade to be presided over by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos will mark the 41st National Day celebrations, which will also be celebrated with fireworks in Muscat and Dhofar and the opening of many development projects, both in the government and the private sectors, said Shaikh Sabbaa bin Hamdan al Saadi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for National Day Celebrations.
The military parade will take place at parade grounds at the Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Sciences in the Wilayat of Nizwa on Friday, November 18, while fireworks on the occasion of the blessed National Day will be held in the wilayats of Bausher, Seeb and Salalah at 8 pm on Friday.
In a statement to Oman News Agency, Shaikh Sabbaa the committee started early to prepare for the celebrations installing illuminated festoons and the Sultanate’s flag along the highway from Muscat to Al Baraka roundabout, while at the same time decorating flyovers and pedestrian overpasses.
A reception will also be held as part of the National Day celebrations programme, Al Saadi added.
Al Saadi expressed allegiance and gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan, the architect of Oman’s modern renaissance, for all the achievements brought about in the country during his prosperous reign.
The 41st National Day commemorates an event of momentous significance — the empowerment of the Omani people.
Indeed, 2011 has been a year of historic highs for Oman, characterised by a succession of landmark events that culminated recently in the inauguration of an enfranchised, empowered and invigorated Majlis Oman.
Political pundits have hailed the opening of the 5th term of reconstituted Majlis Oman as a new beginning for Oman. For one, the Lower Chamber of this 5th edition of the Majlis — the Majlis Ash’shura — is the product of a national ballot that was, for the first time in the decades-long shura (consultative) process, truly free and all-encompassing. For another, the new Majlis’s expanded remit enjoins its members — particularly those of the Majlis Ash’shura — to play their part jointly with the government in advancing the nation’s development and prosperity.
His Majesty eloquently articulated this point when he stated thus: The gradual development of the shura process, underpinned by strong foundations and stable pillars, has led to the establishment of a Majlis that is now ready to contribute “effectively to the decision-making process for the higher interest of the country and citizens”.
The revitalised Majlis Oman is set to play a national role, given the enlargement of its mandate encompassing the legislative and audit fields. His Majesty devoted a key part of his address to reaffirming the government’s commitment to the continued development of the Omani youth and the nation’s human capital.
“We have always affirmed our continued attention to the development of human resources and we said that these resources take top priority in our plans and programmes as the human being is the cornerstone of every development structure and a pivotal component around which all types of development revolve as their ultimate goal is the happiness of the individual, providing him with a means of a decent living and guaranteeing his security and safety,” His Majesty commented.
In his address, His Majesty also pledged to ensure that the youth of Oman get all the support and assistance they need in order to develop their collective ability to contribute to the nation’s comprehensive development.
In this regard, he underlined the need for a “comprehensive assessment” of the country’s educational sector, with a view to ensure that it is capable of meeting the aspirations of Omanis with regard to their career goals.
Royal Decree 99/2011 surpassed even popular expectations of the nature and magnitude of these legislative and audit powers. In a demonstration of His Majesty’s true intent to empower his people, through their elected representatives, the Royal Decree co-opts the Chairpersons of the two Majlises in procedures stipulated for the selection of a successor to the Royal throne.
From the Oman Observer November, 14, 2011