The design works for the proposed Musandam airport development in Oman have been completed and tendering activity is expected to start shortly, according to an announcement made by the Governor of Musandam, Sayyid Ibrahim Bin Said Al-Busaidy, earlier this week.

In March last year, Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) appointed Swiss engineering firm Renardet SA & Partners to prepare designs for the proposed development of Musandam airport in the northern peninsula of the country, which is separated from the rest of Oman by the UAE.

The airport is planned to be developed in two phases. The first phase involves the construction of a 2.5-kilometre-long and 45-metre-wide runway, a terminal building capable of handling 250,000 passengers annually, an air traffic control tower and other associated facilities.

A new 7 kilometre (km) road will also be constructed as part of the first phase.

The second phase includes the expansion of the runway to 3.3km and the expansion of the terminal building and associated facilities.

The timeline to implement the designs is 18 months, and the main construction work will take three years.

The implementation period for the second phase is 18 months. The airport is expected to be completed in 2028.

The estimated $250m Musandam airport project features two runways, an airstrip, a terminal, aircraft parking bays, service buildings, an air traffic control tower, cargo zones, taxiways and a service and hangar area suitable for Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 aircraft.

It also includes commercial and retail units, parking and associated facilities.

In 2020, Oman announced its National Aviation Strategy 2030, which aims to attract an investment of $3.6bn in airport cities over 20 years.

The country plans to expand its navigation infrastructure and open the sector to private international investors by granting concessions for managing and operating local airports and aviation-related services.

Oman's aviation sector has demonstrated positive growth and recovery, according to GlobalData.

A recent report by the National Centre for Statistics & Information shows that airports in Oman have witnessed a significant increase in inbound and outbound passenger numbers.

By November last year, Oman's airports had experienced a 3.1% increase in passenger traffic, with a total of 13.3 million passengers travelling on 98,933 flights, compared to 12.9 million passengers on 97,802 flights during the same period in 2023.

This data reflects the resilience and rebound of the aviation sector in Oman, indicating a recovery in travel and tourism activities that makes it necessary for the sultanate to invest in new airports.