A $6 billion tourism project 'supposedly under construction' in Oman is fake, top officials have revealed, a report said.

Plans for a massive project to be built on an area of around 834,000 were announced at a press conference in 2015, and would see completion in the next six years.

The project was to be built in Shinas province, on the northwestern coast of Oman, and would include five- and seven-star hotels, an international sport hospital, a health club, villas, chalets, a yachts port, a mosque and a shopping mall.

However, Oman’s tourism minister Ahmad Al Meherzi confirmed this week that the project 'did not exist', following an investigation into the project, the Gulf News reported.

“After launching an investigation into the project, it turned out that the project is fake,”, he said.

Revelation of the 'fake development' emerged after members of Oman’s elected Shura Council began to ask questions about the launch of the project.

Al Meherzi said the project was announced by the Omani national who owns a land project and the Ministry of Tourism had nothing to do with it, the report said.

Meanwhile, Al Meherzi said political instability had caused a drop in the number of tourists visiting Oman.

“Sliding oil prices have also curbed general investment in the tourism sector,” he was quoted as saying said.