Oman’s $30 Billion Plan to Reinvent Itself After Oil

When you think about “Gulf megaprojects,” there’s usually one country that does not come to mind. While countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are practically synonymous with futuristic, ultra-expensive infrastructure - or at the very least, designs and proposals for it - there’s a major player in the region that, when it comes to megaprojects, is almost hiding in plain sight. I’m talking, of course, about Oman. By land area, Oman is the second largest of any of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the third most populous. It has a nominal GDP of $110 billion US dollars and arguably the most strategic geographic position, given its access to the Indian Ocean. In short, it is a nation of comparable power and geopolitical relevance to its more famous neighbors. And yet, compared to names like Dubai, Oman receives remarkably little international attention. But that is very likely to soon change. The so-called “Gulf megaproject arms race” is now witnessing the entrance of a new contender - and, as if to make up for a bit of a late start, Oman is not merely launching one flagship project. Rather, it is igniting an entire urban revolution. In this episode of Looking 4, we’ll be looking at 7 different Omani projects that are currently underway across the country. Several are full-blown new cities. Others are major expansions to existing cities. All are expensive, ambitious, and aimed at the same goal - to wholly remake Oman’s urban environment for the post-oil era. It is unquestionably one of the biggest transformation projects of its kind happening anywhere in the world. And its scale and intensity betray the height of the stakes. Oman built its modern wealth on oil - a resource that the world is now shifting away from. Can the country make a second leap in its modern history - and are we witnessing the beginning of that leap? Keep watching to find out. For business inquiries please contact me on 👉 [email protected] If you enjoy megaprojects, extreme engineering, and record-breaking infrastructure, don’t forget to subscribe to Looking 4 and turn on notifications 🔔 See you in the next episode. You can support the development of the channel by becoming an exclusive member here 👇 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKipICKHTWUR9nmkGFUiFgg/join 00:00 How Oman Is Becoming the Gulf’s Best-Designed Country 02:03 The First Great Leap 03:47 Vision 2040 05:22 The Spatial Strategy 07:10 Sultan Haitham City 09:45 The Urban Revolution 12:30 The Second Great Leap 2026 Looking 4 | All rights reserved.