On Wednesday, Diamond Developers and the Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) launched ‘The Sustainable City – Yiti’ in Muscat.
The nearly $1 billion project is located in Muscat, facing the Sea of Oman, and spans 1 million square meters. The city will be built as part of the Yiti Integrated Tourism Development Masterplan’s first phase.
The project will have 1,657 residential units, including 300 eco-friendly and energy-efficient villas, with sustainable innovation at its core.
A four-star neighborhood hotel with 197 rooms, a five-star resort with 170 rooms, a variety of restaurants, many leisure facilities, and beachfront access will also be available in the city. A total of 132 luxury serviced units will be managed by the resort.
The city is meant to produce 100% of its energy needs from renewables, such as solar panels and biogas, in order to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals of reducing reliance on non-renewable sources of energy. It will also recycle all of its water and waste for irrigation purposes.
Eng. Faris Saeed, Chairman of Diamond Developers said ‘The Sustainable City – Yiti’ is a working model for future cities. “The project is expected to be one of the region’s most sustainable cities, and by adopting the latest solutions in energy production, vertical farming, humidity harvesting, and autonomous transportation, we aim to be net-zero carbon by 2040, in line with Oman’s vision and national strategy.”
Eng. Mohammed Salim Al Busaidi, Chairman of OMRAN Group, said: “Yiti will open avenues for numerous lucrative investment opportunities for both local and international investors in line with the directions of Oman Investment Authority.”
By implementing clean transportation options such as autonomous shuttles and electric automobiles, as well as distributing EV charging stations across the project, the city will play a vital part in lowering carbon emissions. The car-free residential neighborhoods will not only create a safe environment for families but will also encourage inhabitants to form strong social bonds within the neighborhood.
A multitude of recreational facilities, including jogging and cycling tracks, an equestrian club, and a horse track, will be available in the city. It will also feature a plaza with a variety of commercial establishments such as shops, restaurants, and cafes.