Oman’s $20 billion Blue City project, which broke ground in the midst of dignitaries last month, marking the commencement of the construction of the mega project.

Billed to be the largest development in Oman, the Blue City is expected to create an entirely new city of more than 250,000 people, once complete.
Al Sawadi Investment and Tourism (ASIT), the developer of the project, has appointed Foster + Partners, to develop the master plan of the Blue City, which is expected to exude the essence of Arabia.
The project will occupy a 34 sq km sea-front site some 90 km from Muscat and will comprise 10 phases.
The $2.2 billion Phase one will involve the construction of 200 villas, 5,000 apartments, four resort hotels totalling 670 keys, five retail areas, two golf courses and associated infrastructure and landscaping.
This phase is due for completion in 2011.
Aeco, a partnership between Elliniki Technodomiki TEB of Greece and Enka of Turkey, has been appointed as contractor for the first phase of the Blue City which will see an initial area totalling 5.5 sq km or 17.2 per cent of the projected final site land of 32 sq km developed.