Jood villa contract to a Saudi contractor: what it means for contractors and investors in Oman

What happened

On October 6, 2026, Talaat Moustafa Muscat for Real Estate Development awarded the construction package for 160 villas, including site leveling works, in the “Jood” project within Sultan Haitham City to Masnad Al Imdad, a Saudi company owned by Al Kathiri Holding Group, for OMR 11.285 million excluding VAT. The value is not necessarily final, as it is subject to value engineering. The contract is expected to be signed on November 5, 2026, with an execution period of 24 months, according to Oman Observer.

This is the contractor’s first project outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and represents a small part of a larger picture: the Jood project covers approximately 2.7 million square meters and includes 7,746 residential units of villas and apartments. The group’s planned investments in Oman between the Jood and Yamal projects amount to about OMR 1.7 billion, according to the same newspaper (October 2026).

Why this matters for Gulf contracting and development companies

Residential projects of this scale are not executed by a single contractor. Behind each main package lies a long chain of works: electrical and mechanical, finishing, material supply, site coordination, equipment, accommodation and transportation for work teams. These activities span several years across project phases.

However, participation in this chain does not begin at the tender stage. A company entering Oman from abroad first needs an appropriate legal entity, a commercial registration, a classification that matches the size of targeted works, activity licenses, and a clear Omanization plan. Companies that start these steps only after an opportunity appears are often too late.

What should be checked before entry

Before making any commitment, we recommend the company answer specific questions: Does the legal entity structure suit its business activities in Oman? What classification is required for the targeted works, and how long does it take to obtain? Will it operate independently or in partnership with a local company familiar with the market and authorities? What is the actual operating cost in Oman for labor, equipment, and accommodation?

The answers to these questions vary from company to company; general answers do not apply. News provides an indicator of market movement, but the decision to enter should be based on the company’s own situation.

For the individual investor: property and investor residency

The movement of major residential projects means wider options for those considering property ownership in Oman. Oman offers a pathway for investor residency linked to property ownership, with conditions set by the relevant authorities at the time of application, which should be reviewed from the official source before any purchase decision.

How Al Tamkeen can help

At Al Tamkeen Business Management, we open the door to everything related to real estate and contracting in Oman: establishing the entity, commercial registration, classification and licensing, and follow-up with the authorities. We have a network of relationships with contracting and development companies and residential projects in Oman, connecting incoming companies when it suits their business nature. For the individual investor, we accompany them through property acquisition and investor residency steps.

Source: Oman Observer — 2026-10-08T03:55:51.000Z