Boating market in Oman set for growth

by IBI Magazine on 7 Aug 2006 Boating market in Oman set for growth with the development of a network of marinas that will open up cruising on the attractive Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea coast, which extends south for some 1,000 miles from the mountainous Musandam peninsula in the north. Currently Oman has just one marina facility, Marina Al Bandar Rowdah, in Muscat. The lack of other berthing and mooring facilities has restricted the development of boating, especially cruising as the coastline and waters, although beautiful, are rugged and exposed.

According to Mohammed A Al-Sinani, Director General of planning at the Ministry of Tourism in Oman, ‘there are 13 new marina projects either under construction or in the advance stage of planning ranging from Khasab in the Musandam to Salalah in the south. All of these projects are due for completion within the next five years and will provide over 2,000 berths, ramp launching for trailer boats and fuel and maintenance support facilities. Leisure boating is a key sector of the tourism industry that Oman wants to attract and we need to provide the facilities for it to grow.’

The first major project to be completed will be The Wave, a large residential waterside complex and associated marina being partially built on reclaimed land situated adjacent to Muscat's international airport. According to Nick Smith, CEO of the project, ‘we anticipate the marina will be operational within two to three years, and will have provision for 300 berths.’