Light industries city launched in Oman

Muscat: Sandan, Oman’s first integrated light industries city, was officially launched under the auspices of Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry on Monday.
Al Sunaidy praised the massive efforts that helped turn a dream into reality. “This is a very adventurous and pioneering idea and I hope we can see more of such ideas all around the Oman,” he said.
“This project is a quality step forward and it will provide the market with many opportunities and pump huge investments,” he asserted. The first-of-its-kind project will be constructed over 250,000 square metres of land, located 5 kilometres away from the Al Mabela exit on the express way.
The Sandan team showcased a six metre-long and three-metre wide model of the city, which attracted the guests to explore the features of the divisions of the project. The city will host 2,200 workshops and exhibitions for building materials and automotive, 400 offices and 1,800 residential units for workers.
After the official launch, the Sandan team started offering all units available for sale. Th event saw a big turn out of investors, businessmen, entrepreneurs, traders and the youth, who wanted to take part in a great success story. According to the Sandan team, 50 auto showrooms have been sold before the launch ceremony.
“This project is 100 per cent Omani and has been planned for two years as an integrated project, based on the latest global standards,” Naser Al Rashdi, chief executive officer of Sandan Development said.
“Our team had made great efforts to achieve this result,” he added. He also said the project management team has been engaged in a dialogue with the concerned bodies and entities to offer special services to entrepreneurs and investors. It aims to help young Omani entrepreneurs establish their businesses in the area.
Sandan has also given great attention in detail to secure the success of the project, which is strategically located with three frontlines in the middle of the Muscat Expressway and the Al Batinah Expressway.
According to Sandan, it has 10 inlets to allow smooth traffic for all. The park is expected to accommodate 15,000 people, in addition to visitors and customers.
All the units of the project workshops, offices, trade shows and residential units will be offered for direct sale; and buyers will have the opportunity to pay in interest-free instalments extending for 18 months. All facilities are expected to be available for the expected 15,000 people, who will dwell in the city; such as hypermarkets, restaurants, hospitals etc.
“The project is an unprecedented idea that came from the need of the Sultanate to build a modern and integrated city with a particular host of commercial activities in one place and supported by all necessary services for people living there,” Al Rashdi said.
“Two years ago, the work team launched a study and analysis of the neighbouring markets, such as Al Mabailah and Saqsouq, and had meetings with building materials and auto traders to gather a sufficient idea about their needs,” he added.
As per Sandan, the front line of the project is expected to host 50 auto trade shows, with a capacity of more than 1,000 vehicles supported by all workshops that are necessary for auto trade.
There will be more than 1,200 workshops offering repairing, spare parts and auto requirements. “This, in turn, will make Sandan the biggest and first destination for vehicles customers and lovers,” a spokesperson said.
“The big economic turnout and value of the project will create new opportunities for the youth and new jobs,” Saleem bin Hassan Al Baluchi, the assistant director of the Directorate General of Real Estate Development at the Ministry of Housing said.
Al Rashdi said private investors have invested in the land and the project and Sandan will be the developer of the project. “At the moment, there is no foreign investor in the project,” he noted. He added that Sandan has been established to deliver this specific project and may get involved in developing similar projects in other areas of Oman in the future.