Wednesday 08 / January / 2025
On Oman Environment Day, The Sustainable City – Yiti has already created over 3,000 local jobs, built partnerships with ten local companies, and continues to lead the way toward Oman’s net zero commitment by 2050
Every year, on January 8, Oman observes its Environment Day, reaffirming its commitment to preserving the environment and natural resources while paving the way toward a net-zero future by 2050. The occasion serves as a reminder to all sectors that achieving this ambitious goal requires collective effort, with each industry playing a critical role. Real estate and development, in particular, is a key sector where sustainable practices can significantly contribute to Oman’s environmental objectives.
A leading example of sustainable construction in Oman is The Sustainable City – Yiti in Muscat. Designed with the highest social, environmental, and economic sustainability standards in mind, The Sustainable City – Yiti aspires to become the largest operational sustainable community in the region and the first net-zero-emission city in the world by 2040.
The project, which is a partnership between Diamond Developers (a division of SEE Holding) and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group), was born out of a shared vision to build sustainable cities of tomorrow. The cities of the future are designed to serve people and nature, and are built out of necessity for the survival of our planet.
Diamond Developers has created its own framework, known as the "DNA," which categorizes the sources of manmade greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their contributions to global warming, organized under six key pillars of environmental sustainability: food, energy, water, products, mobility, and waste. This framework empowers communities to effectively reduce or eliminate emissions across these critical areas.
In line with this approach, The Sustainable City – Yiti is designed to reduce the per capita carbon footprint of its residents by an impressive 78% compared to conventional housing in Oman. This ambitious goal is achieved by addressing emissions across the six pillars, alongside the use of eco-friendly construction materials and interiors. The city also aims to be powered entirely by renewable energy, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability at every level.
Furthermore, The Sustainable City – Yiti is committed to 100% water recycling, 100% waste diversion from landfills, and achieving 80% self-sufficiency in food production. These initiatives position the community as a leader in sustainable urban design and a blueprint for the future of eco-friendly living in Oman and beyond.
The community, which is designed to accommodate approximately 10,000 people and is set to be fully operational in 2026, is not only paving the way towards Oman’s net zero commitment, but also helping revitalize the economy and business in Yiti and the surrounding areas. In fact, it will enable its residents to live, work and thrive within the community. It will provide full and part time employment opportunities for residents and non-residents across a variety of sectors including retail, hospitality, education, and entertainment. In fact, the project has already generated more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, built partnerships with ten local companies, and is expected to create numerous business opportunities for local businesses and SMEs upon completion.
Also, the first two phases of sales have shown exceptional demand, particularly among Omani nationals, who make up 55% of the homeowners, highlighting the growing commitment to sustainable living in the region. The remaining buyers represent 29 nationalities, with notable interest from North America and the United Kingdom.
With that, and 96% of its infrastructure works now completed as recently announced, The Sustainable City – Yiti is dispelling the misconception that sustainable developments come with higher construction costs.
The project aims to inspire and empower partners and stakeholders worldwide to adopt sustainable solutions, while fostering knowledge exchange to expand sustainable living practices and achieve significant reductions in GHG emissions on a global scale, on Oman Environment Day and beyond.
