The Sustainable City Yiti

The Sustainable City Yiti (TSC Yiti) is a mixed-use¹ mega-tourism project², set to develop as Oman’s first ‘net-zero’ city³. Developed along the coastline 30 km away from central Muscat⁴, it seeks to improve the quality of life⁵ of its residents, as well as create opportunities for foreign investment^{6 i}. The project is aligned with the Oman Vision 2040ⁱⁱ and is an integral component of the Sultanate’s National Tourism Strategyⁱⁱⁱ. The city is also a component of the first phase of the Yiti Integrated Tourism Development Masterplan, and is scheduled for completion by 2025⁷.

The project’s vision is realized through a comprehensive master plan covering an area of 11 square kilometers⁸, strategically located along the Gulf of Oman in Yiti, Muscat⁹. The plan demonstrates principles of placemaking¹⁰, prioritizing integration and inclusivity¹¹ through a variety of public and community facilities that are accessible to all¹².

The master plan for the city consists of two districts¹³, with 1657 residential units, 300 villas, 1225 apartments as well as 132 luxury serviced apartments¹⁴, a green spine, large public spaces and amenities such as a hotel, resort, and school¹⁵. The school stands out as a unique institution in the city, as it integrates concepts of sustainability in its curriculum and consists of a ‘SEE lab’ for the exhibition of technologies that promote sustainable development¹⁶.

The plan also proposes non-motorized mobility infrastructure, including cycling & jogging tracks for residents¹⁷ and visitors¹⁸. It is designed to enhance livability, with facilities such as a fitness center, hiking trails, wellness center in addition to the basic amenities required for a quality standard of living¹⁹. The city also aspires to foster local economic development through the production of food within its agricultural areas, including vertical farms and greenhouses²⁰. It aims to generate employment opportunities for the local youth, as well as benefit the economy of Oman by encouraging the procurement of local goods and services²¹.

The concept of the city borrows from the Dubai Sustainable City, positioning Yiti as a ‘living laboratory’ for the testing of energy-efficient tools and methods²². For its buildings, TSC Yiti aims to adopt energy-efficient design, incorporating the use of eco-friendly materials, and construction methods that are in absolute compliance with major building rating systems²³. To realize its ambitions of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, the city plans to generate its energy from renewable sources, recycle 100% of its water, and optimize the use of landfill by diverting all waste for recycling or reuse²⁴. As a result, this system stands to benefit its residents by significantly reducing energy consumption tariffs²⁵.

TSC Yiti will be developed through four phases²⁶, the first of which is underway and covers an area of 1.43 square kilometers²⁷ at a cost of approximately USD 900 million²⁸. It includes the Yiti Marina Town and Yiti Resort side which consist of residences, resorts, retail, and business developments, all of which position the city as a tourism hub²⁹. The second phase, spanning an area of 260,000 square meters, focuses on the development of elite residential areas situated on hilltops, creating a new benchmark for luxury housing³⁰. The third and fourth phases see the completion of the remaining developments, primarily Yenkit town, Western Hub, and the East of Canyon³¹.

TSC Yiti is a joint venture between Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group)³², the government’s executive arm for tourism development³³, and Diamond Developers³⁴. The master plan is proposed by the Edinburgh-based design studio, Kettle Collective³⁵. In 2022, the Galfar Engineering and Contracting Company was awarded the first construction contract for the project, for the development of a central plaza, as well as commercial, residential, and office buildings in the city³⁶.