Blue City in Muscat, Oman - Construction begins: Developers
yesterday kick-started the construction of the $15-$20 billion
Blue City with a groundbreaking ceremony for the $3 billion
Phase 1.
Amidst rapid tourism development in the country, Oman is looking
to take the development process to every region of the
Sultanate, said Sayyid Asaad Bin Tareq Al Said, representative
of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, on the sidelines of the ceremony.
Al Said on Sunday night laid the foundation-stone for the
biggest beachfront freehold property in Oman and termed it as an
important development in the Sultanate's plans.
"We need such big projects not only for tourism development but
also to contribute to the development of the local area and
dwellers around it," he said.
"With the growth in tourism, we are looking at the equal
development of all areas in the country in the next ten years,"
he told reporters. He said such projects are expected to benefit
the local residents and provide them with education and
training.
The first phase of the project, which will be released for sale
today, represents a substantial standalone project but is also
intended to fit as a component of the overall development.
It will be built over an area totalling 5.4 square kilometres,
which is 15.8 per cent of the projected final site land of 34
square km. The Phase One will have 5,193 villas and apartments,
four hotels, six individual retail areas with a total floor area
of approximately 1.7 million square metres and it will be ready
for delivery by 2010.
Key tourism-related elements of Phase One are a 27-hole
tournament standard golf resort, complete with a golf hotel, a
mega mall providing high class shopping, a tourist village and
souq, a natural creek conservation park, an amphitheatre and
four hotels.
The ceremony conducted in a traditional tent enclosure included
an inspiring musical performance by singer Stefanie Rose Airey
and virtual speeches using hologram techniques. The welcome
address by Sayyid Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said, Oman's Minister of
Heritage and Culture, was also virtual although he was present
at the ceremony.
"Al Madina A'Zarqa is planned to become a model for a lifestyle
that adapts to the surrounding environment," he said in his
welcome address.
"The project has not excluded traditional Omani architectural
design and construction; on the contrary it is inspired by the
architectural elements to be found in the local environment,"
Sayyid Haitham said.
He said that the Blue City was planned to be a model for those
seeking relaxation in an integrated community that meets the
need of daily life including family and work requirements.
Virtual speeches, using hologram techniques, were also made by
Gerard Evenden, senior partner, Foster + Partners, and Dimitris
Kallitsantsis, AECO director and managing director of Elliniki
Technodomiki.
source;
http://www.uaepropertytrends.com/ptrends/mvnforum/viewthread?thread=2627
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