Oman today_ The Greater Muscat Structure Plan has won the prestigious WAFX 2025 Award in the Smart Cities category and has also been selected as a finalist in the Comprehensive Urban Planning category at the upcoming World Architecture Festival (WAF), to be held in Miami, USA, from November 12 to 14, 2025.
Developed by Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the plan reflects the country’s bold steps toward building a sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking future for its capital—fully aligned with the national goals outlined in Oman Vision 2040.
The WAFX Awards recognize future-focused projects that offer practical solutions to global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, urban equity, and smart development. Muscat’s success in this arena highlights Oman’s growing prominence on the global stage of smart urbanism.
The plan now competes with entries from countries including the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia—demonstrating the maturity and strength of Oman’s urban planning capabilities.
Eng. Yaqoub bin Amer Al Harthy, Project Director, emphasized: “This is not just a regulatory framework—it’s a strategic roadmap that addresses fundamental challenges such as mobility, sustainability, quality of life, economic growth, and public safety. The recognition is the result of wide collaboration between public, private, and civil society sectors.”
Monika Beck, Urban Planning Adviser to the Minister, also noted: “From the outset, our aim was to provide an integrated response to global issues such as climate change and urban health. By embedding the plan within a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform, we enabled deep coordination across transport, sustainability, economic diversification, and public services. This multidisciplinary approach is what made the project stand out.”
The plan is built around five strategic pillars:
1. Green Muscat – Safeguarding natural resources such as wadis and water systems
2. Connected Muscat – Reducing car dependency through a smart, integrated transport network
3. Productive Muscat – Fostering innovation and knowledge-based industries
4. Vibrant Muscat – Promoting livable neighborhoods and strong social cohesion
5. Safe & Resilient Muscat – Designing for climate resilience and public safety
This achievement positions Oman as a regional leader in smart urban development, marking a transformative shift in the nation’s planning philosophy—one that stays rooted in local identity while remaining responsive to global change.
As the World Architecture Festival in Miami approaches, the Greater Muscat Structure Plan is poised to capture global attention with its people-centered, sustainable, and future-ready approach—showing the world that smart cities are not only about technology, but about building inclusive, resilient, and culturally grounded urban futures.