The government of the Sultanate of Oman is planning to build six new airports which will link other regions with Muscat and is part of a larger plan to develop several airports to meet the increasing travel demand from both tourists and the business community.

The new airports planned are in Sohar, Ras Al Hadd, Al Duqm, Adam, Haima and Shaleem in the Southern region. 

The development of Sohar, Ras Al Hadd and Al Duqm Airports were announced by the government in early 2006, while the development of Adam, Haima and Shaleem Airports in the Southern region of Oman was announced in early 2008. 

Sohar Airport
Hamza Associates, a leading Egyptian Engineering Consultancy Firm is providing consultancy services linked to the design and construction of an international airport in Sohar.  The master plan layout will include features such as the paved runway, taxiway, passenger terminal building and traffic control tower.

Sohar has gained significance as Oman’s fastest developing industrial zone and an airport would avoid the 2 hour long drive from either Muscat or Dubai.

Ras Al Hadd Airport
Ras Al Hadd is located near Sur, the proposed airport will help tourists to avoid the five hour long road journey from Muscat.

The endangered Green Back turtle nesting attracts thousands of visitors to Ras Al Hadd every year, Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jinz are rare beaches in the world where turtles can be watched in a quite atmosphere.

Six firms have submitted firm bids for the phase one package of works linked to the development of the Ras Al Hadd Airport in the Sharqiya region, the development will be undertaken in phases.  The green field facility targeted for launch in the fourth quarter of 2010 is part of a tourism master plan that includes the development of a number of eco-tourism resorts along the Eastern coast of Oman.

Phase one of the airport development, currently under tender, covers site preparation work and the communication and power package.  A key component of the contract involves the construction of a roughly 10km access road leading to the airport terminal.  An upgraded intersection will tie the new airport access road into the present Ras Al Hadd coastal road which serves the area.

In November 2006, leading Canada based airport development consultancy Pryde Schropp McComb, Inc (PSMI) in association with Gulf Engineering Consultants of Oman, were awarded an Airport design and construction supervision consultancy contract for the Ras Al Hadd Greenfield Airport Development.

The facility will meet ICAO Code F design requirements and include a 400 metre runway and associated taxi way and apron systems, the building programme will include a new Passenger Terminal, combined services building and an Air Traffic Control Tower.

Al Duqm Airport
Parsons International, a US based Engineering Consultancy Firm, is advising the government on the design and construction of Al Duqm Airport.  Parsons is drawing up the design and assist in preparing tender documents, cost estimation as well as in selecting a contractor for building the airport.

This is part of a larger plan to set up a modern seaport and other facilities in the South Eastern part of Oman.  A dry dock will also be developed in Al Duqm.