Madinat Al Irfan, one of Oman’s largest urban development projects, is advancing construction across its core commercial and infrastructure phases while preparing to roll out residential, retail, financial, and community components as it evolves into an integrated mixed-use destination in Muscat,

Spanning 7 million sq m, the flagship development has already delivered several key anchor assets, including the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), JW Marriott Muscat, Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC, OQ Headquarters, and Omantel Headquarters.

The focus of work on site is currently on Business Park Phase Three, which stands at 23 per cent complete and is scheduled for handover in the first quarter of 2028, Eng. Mohammed Abdullah Al Salmi, General Manager of Madinat Al Irfan, tells Gulf Construction’s Bina Goveas.

Phase Three will add to the established Business Park cluster with contemporary office buildings designed around a landscaped central courtyard known as the Oasis. The space is intended to function not only as a green area but also as a social and networking hub, with shaded walkways, seating, communal areas and food and beverage outlets.

The development is also designed to integrate work and lifestyle uses, with retail and F&B outlets at ground level. Its connectivity with anchor companies including Omantel and OQ is intended to support advanced digital infrastructure, high-speed connectivity and smart systems, Al Salmi says.

We will continue to maintain the right balance between built-up areas, green spaces, and walkable public realms, creating a people-centric city – Eng. Mohammed Abdullah Al Salmi. 

The project is being developed with sustainability and occupant wellbeing at its core. Business Park Phase Three is targeting LEED Gold certification, while WELL principles are being applied to create healthier and more productive workplaces. At the wider development level, sustainability measures include district cooling, energy-efficient façades, daylighting, water-efficient fixtures and the use of non-potable water for landscape irrigation. The project estimates energy savings of around 25 per cent and a 50 per cent reduction in indoor water consumption, while approximately 30 per cent of civil materials are recycled.

The natural landscape is another important component of the masterplan. With 36 per cent of Madinat Al Irfan dedicated to open green spaces, existing wadi channels have been preserved and incorporated into a more accessible public environment. Around 15 km of cycling trails will encourage community interaction with the landscape.

Safety is also a major focus. Business Park Phase Three recently surpassed one million safe working hours without a lost-time injury. Al Salmi attributes this achievement to a project-wide safety culture, multilingual inductions and toolbox talks, peer-to-peer engagement and digital HSE systems, including the Care Card system and centralised reporting platforms.

Beyond the current office development, Madinat Al Irfan is preparing for a broader mix of uses. Upcoming components include townhouses and villas, F&B destinations, the International Financial Centre of Oman (IFCO), Wadi Park, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry headquarters and the first school in the convention district. Wadi Park is planned as a major community space with around 600 trees and facilities including a natural play park, skate park, basketball court, picnic area and fitness zone.

Phase Three will add contemporary office buildings to the established Business Park cluster.

The development is also being positioned to benefit from Oman’s investor-friendly policies, including 100 per cent foreign ownership. Its strategic location close to Muscat International Airport, major road networks, OCEC, corporate headquarters and hospitality assets is expected to strengthen its appeal to international businesses and investors. IFCO, in particular, is expected to act as a catalyst for attracting international financial institutions and professional services firms.

Looking ahead, Al Salmi’s vision is for Madinat Al Irfan to evolve into a “well-connected, integrated city that brings together business, living, and lifestyle, with technology embedded throughout the development.”

“We will continue to maintain the right balance between built-up areas, green spaces, and walkable public realms, creating a people-centric city designed for long-term value and resilience; one that delivers lasting relevance and longevity for future generations,” he says.

Excerpts of the interview with Eng. Mohammed Abdullah Al Salmi, General Manager of Madinat Al Irfan:

Madinat Al Irfan is a massive 7 million sq m mega-project with multiple distinct districts advancing simultaneously. Provide us with an overview of what has been completed and what components are currently progressing on site. 

Madinat Al Irfan is progressing on multiple fronts simultaneously, reflecting the scale and ambition of the destination. 

On the completed side, we have delivered the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), along with two anchor hospitality assets, the JW Marriott Muscat and the Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC. We have also completed two Grade A office headquarters: the OQ Headquarters, with a total built-up area of 44,125 sq m, and the Omantel Headquarters, spanning 98,505 sq m. 

Masterplan of Madinat Al Irfan.

Currently progressing on site is Business Park Phase Three, comprising three Grade A office buildings that will complete the Business Park cluster. 

Looking ahead, upcoming components include residential offerings such as townhouses and villas, retail and F&B destinations, the International Financial Centre of Oman (IFCO), and Wadi Park, which will serve as the destination’s central green and community space. 

BUSINESS PARK PHASE THREE

Could you walk us through the current progress of Business Park Phase Three, what it comprises, what unique features distinguish it from earlier phases, and what is the construction timeline for handover? 

Business Park Phase Three at Madinat Al Irfan is set to become a defining landmark in Muscat’s commercial landscape, combining modern office design, panoramic views, and a vibrant community ecosystem. The development introduces three contemporary buildings designed with sustainability and efficiency in mind, offering flexible workspaces and elevated perspectives across the city’s growing business district. 

At the heart of the project lies the Oasis, a landscaped courtyard that unites the buildings into a single integrated destination. More than a green centrepiece, the Oasis is envisioned as a networking hub where professionals can gather, collaborate, and build relationships in an open-air setting. Shaded walkways, seating areas, and communal zones create a natural stage for both formal and informal interactions. 

The Oasis is further strengthened by dedicated food and beverage outlets, offering casual dining and coffee spaces that encourage social engagement. On the ground floors of the towers, additional retail and F&B exposure ensures convenience and variety, making the park a lively destination that blends work with lifestyle. Together, these offerings transform the development into a dynamic ecosystem where business, networking, and leisure converge. 

Madinat Al Irfan recently celebrated a major safety milestone, surpassing 1 million safe working hours without a single lost-time injury (LTI) at Business Park Phase Three. 

Connectivity is a defining asset of Business Park Phase 3. The project is strategically integrated with anchor partners such as Omantel and OQ, ensuring advanced digital infrastructure, high-speed connectivity, and smart systems that support innovation and global partnerships. These collaborations reinforce the park’s role as a hub for enterprise and investment, aligned with Oman’s Vision 2040. 

Anticipated project completion is Q1 2028, with the project currently around 23 per cent complete. 

DESIGNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY

How has Madinat Al Irfan embedded sustainability principles into the design and construction of large-scale developments like Business Park Phase Three? 

Sustainability is already embedded across Madinat Al Irfan, with several of our buildings having achieved international green certifications. The Omantel Headquarters has achieved LEED Platinum certification, while the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) was the first tourism development in Oman to receive LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council, recording the highest LEED point score in the sultanate. Our Madinat Al Irfan Experience Centre is certified under LEED BD+C. 

Building on this track record, Business Park Phase Three is targeting LEED Gold Certification across its commercial spaces, a globally recognised standard for sustainable buildings that recognises high performance in energy efficiency, water conservation, environmental responsibility, and occupant wellbeing. 

Business Park Phase Three is targeting LEED Gold certification, while WELL principles are being applied to create healthier workplaces.

Alongside this, we are applying Oman’s first WELL Certification principles – an internationally recognised framework focused on enhancing the health, wellbeing, and productivity of building occupants – across the development. It places emphasis on air quality, natural light, thermal comfort, movement, and overall user experience, helping us create healthier workplaces for the businesses and people who will occupy the towers. 

What sustainable technologies, materials, or systems have been implemented at Madinat Al Irfan, and can you share any measurable environmental outcomes or energy performance data that demonstrate the project’s sustainability impact? 

Sustainability at Madinat Al Irfan is delivered through a combination of infrastructure-level systems and building-level measures: 

•             District cooling system: Provides cooling from a single high-efficiency plant, significantly improving energy performance and operational reliability, which leads to a significant reduction in electricity consumption compared with conventional building-based cooling systems. 

•             LEED target: Targeting a minimum of LEED Gold Certification across all new developments, incorporating energy-efficient façades and daylighting strategies.  

•             Energy savings: Approximately 25 per cent energy savings through energy conservation systems.

•             Water conservation: Approximately 50 per cent reduction in indoor water consumption through water-efficient fixtures.

•             Irrigation: 100 per cent use of non-potable water for landscape irrigation.

•             Materials: Approximately 30 per cent recycled civil materials, alongside the use of regional materials in construction.

With 36 per cent of the masterplan dedicated to open green spaces and the integration of a central Wadi Park, how does the natural topography shape your sustainable infrastructure? 

Our approach begins with preserving the natural topography of the land, minimising intervention and impact on the existing land conditions and levels. 

The existing wadi channels have been preserved as a key natural asset, and rather than working against them, we have transformed the wadi into a walkable, people-friendly environment, complete with 15 km of cycling trails that invite the community to engage with this landscape. 

‘SAFETY STARTS WITH ME’ PHILOSOPHY

Madinat Al Irfan recently celebrated a massive safety milestone – surpassing 1 million safe working hours without a single lost-time injury (LTI) at Business Park Phase Three. What specific HSE frameworks and workforce engagement strategies allowed your team to achieve this level of operational discipline? 

We are proud of this milestone because it demonstrates that safety here is not treated as a checklist, but as a mindset. What impressed us most is how the team built a culture where every individual feels responsible for their own safety and that of their colleagues. The philosophy of ‘My Safety, My Responsibility’ and ‘Safety Starts with ME’ is not just a slogan; it is clearly lived out on site. 

The Oasis is envisioned as a networking hub where professionals can gather, collaborate, and build relationships in an open-air setting. 

As the client, we believe sustainable success comes when safety is internalised as a value. The workforce engagement, peer-to-peer interventions, and open reporting culture show that people are empowered to act, speak up, and contribute to continuous improvement. That ownership is what transforms safety from compliance into culture. 

Looking ahead, our expectation is that this mindset continues to grow, that safety remains the lens through which every decision is made, and that lessons learned here are carried forward to future projects. For us, this achievement is proof that when safety culture is strong, operational excellence naturally follows. 

How do you ensure that your localised HSE protocols remain uniform, consistent, and strictly enforced across a diverse network of international contractors, subcontractors, and thousands of labourers? What HSE technologies or digital risk management tools have you deployed on-site, and how have they improved safety outcomes? 

Our priority has always been to ensure that safety protocols are standardised and followed consistently across every contractor and worker on site. What we value most in this achievement is the way the project team has embedded a uniform HSE culture that transcends nationality, subcontractor boundaries, or company affiliation. By requiring every contractor to operate under a single HSE management system, supported by multilingual inductions and toolbox talks, the project has created one common language of safety that everyone understands and practices. 

We are particularly encouraged by our use of digital HSE tools such as the Care Card system and centralised reporting platforms. These technologies have transformed safety management from a reactive process into a proactive one, giving leadership real-time visibility, enabling faster corrective actions, and ensuring accountability across thousands of workers. Compared to conventional paper-based approaches, the digital systems have clearly improved traceability, reduced delays, and strengthened risk prevention. 

This milestone demonstrates that when strong governance, cultural ownership, and modern technology come together, safety excellence is not only achievable but sustainable. We expect that this integrated approach continues to evolve, ensuring that every worker, regardless of background, remains part of a unified safety culture where zero harm is the standard. 

THE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE

Looking beyond Business Park Phase Three, what are the next major upcoming developments on the horizon for Madinat Al Irfan over the next 24 to 36 months, particularly regarding new residential districts, schools, or healthcare facilities? 

Beyond Business Park Phase Three, the next 24 to 36 months will bring a wider mix of uses to Madinat Al Irfan. 

On the residential front, we will introduce townhouses and villas, supported by F&B offerings designed to serve the growing community across the urban quarters. 

Looking ahead, Madinat Al Irfan will be home to the IFCO, a landmark national initiative that will further strengthen the destination’s business ecosystem. At the same time, Wadi Park will become the city’s central green and community space, enhancing wellbeing, connectivity and community life through around 600 trees and a range of amenities, including a natural play park, F&B canopies, a skate park, a basketball court, a picnic area and a fitness zone. 

In terms of institutional and civic facilities, we will deliver the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) headquarters within the urban quarters and open the first school in the convention district to serve the residents of Madinat Al Irfan. 

As Madinat Al Irfan progresses toward its future phases, how do you envision the development evolving to meet emerging market demands in the region? What lessons from Business Park Phase Three and the project’s HSE and sustainability performance do you recommend other developers in the Middle East adopt? 

Madinat Al Irfan is setting a new benchmark for commercial office developments by prioritising employee wellbeing, sustainability, and exceptional workplace experiences. 

We are also investing significantly in supporting infrastructure, with over 4,000 shaded underground and structured parking spaces, ensuring convenience and comfort for employees and visitors alike. 

Across future phases, we will continue integrating internationally recognised sustainability standards, including LEED and WELL certifications, while maintaining a thoughtful balance between built-up areas and high-quality public realm. Central to this is our green oasis, with landscaped gardens, water features, shaded walkways, and vibrant gathering spaces that foster wellbeing, connectivity, and community interaction. 

ATTRACTING GLOBAL INVESTMENT

As a flagship project of the OMRAN Group aligned closely with Oman Vision 2040, Madinat Al Irfan offers attractive investor benefits like 100 per cent foreign ownership and fast-track business setup. How will the upcoming phases of the project strategically leverage these policies to attract international investors, developers, and global businesses to Muscat’s future city? 

Madinat Al Irfan is well positioned to leverage Oman’s investor-friendly environment, including 100 per cent foreign ownership, to attract international investors, developers, and multinational companies. 

Across upcoming phases, we will deliver premium Grade A office developments designed to meet the requirements of global corporations, regional headquarters, and high-growth industries, alongside high-quality residential communities that support a vibrant live-work lifestyle. 

Our ambition is to develop a fully integrated mixed-use destination that seamlessly combines business, residential, hospitality, retail, and public spaces, creating long-term value for investors. This is reinforced by our strategic location in the heart of Muscat, just 10 minutes from Muscat International Airport, with direct access to major road networks and key business districts, as well as our proximity to national landmark destinations including the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, the future IFCO, leading corporate headquarters, and world-class hospitality assets such as the JW Marriott Muscat and Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC. 

Within this ecosystem, IFCO is set to be a major catalyst for investment, attracting international financial institutions and professional services firms, and further strengthening Madinat Al Irfan’s profile as Oman’s premier business and financial destination. 

FIVE-YEAR VISION

As General Manager, what is your ultimate strategic vision for Madinat Al Irfan for the next five years? 

My ultimate vision for Madinat Al Irfan over the next five years is to develop a well-connected, integrated city that brings together business, living, and lifestyle, with technology embedded throughout the development. 

We will continue to maintain the right balance between built-up areas, green spaces, and walkable public realms, creating a people-centric city designed for long-term value and resilience; one that delivers lasting relevance and longevity for future generations. 

Much of this vision has been shaped by drawing inspiration from leading cities and developments around the world, adapting global best practices to the Omani context rather than replicating them. Through extensive travel and exposure to successful urban destinations, I have observed how the world’s best cities integrate connectivity, public spaces, sustainability, and quality of life, creating places where people genuinely want to live, work, and spend their time. Our objective is to bring those same principles together in a way that reflects Oman’s identity, culture, and aspirations under Oman Vision 2040.