Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has announced plans to build a total of 141 residential units for its low-income families (whose monthly income does not exceed RO300) as well as the social security families, from this year’s budget, said a report.

 

The ministry is also set to grant 3,600 housing assistance this year, including 878 housing assistance to the tune of RO21.9 million currently under process from the 2020 budget. This is in addition to another 2,800 cases at a value of RO70 million which are expected to be finalized in the current year, reported Oman Observer.

 

In addition, in case of availability of financial allocations, the ministry plans to construct 26 residential units in Sarij township in the Wilayat of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate as well as 9 residential units in the Niyabat of Tiwi, 51 residential units in Wadi Bani Khalid, 30 residential units in Musandam Governorate and 25 in Al Buraimi Governorate, it stated.

 

In another development, the ministry said it has plans to establish a cooperative housing system which is aimed at attracting and regulating housing assistance provided by charitable and public organizations and social responsibility sectors at the private sector as well as citizens willing to contribute, and bringing them under one umbrella.

 

The unified system is expected to enhance the role of the cooperative and charitable sector as well as reduce reliance on the government in implementing social housing programmes, it added.