The first phase of the RO1 billion ($2.6 billion) Mirbat Beach project being developed in the Sultanate of Oman, is scheduled for launch next month, said the developers, Dhofar Tourism Company.

The billion-dollar integrated tourism development project covers a landmass of two million sq m with residential, commercial, tourism and entertainment facilities to be completed in five different phases, said a top official.

Upon completion, Mirbat Beach will feature over 1,600 residential units (townhouses, village houses, villas, apartments) and over 10,000 sq m of retail space and 10,000 sq m of office space, noted Osama Mariam, CEO of Dhofar Tourism Company.

The project also boasts of two luxury five-star hotels, 538 hotel furnished apartments, a 9-hole golf-course and clubhouse, a water park, a private hospital/clinic with helipad, nursery and child care facility, as well as an entertainment centre for adults and children, he said.

The first phase comprises a 234-room five-star Marriot resort besides Frankincense by Chivana and the Extra Divers Centre.

The resort marks the entry of Marriott chain of hotels into the Sultanate. It will offer the finest accommodation, banqueting, leisure and recreation facilities to suit the needs of discerning travellers seeking a memorable holiday or an incentive meeting, Mariam remarked.

The project was recently unveiled at the Tourism Development and Investment Exhibition (TDIE) 2009 in Muscat.

“Our presence at TDIE repeated the successes we enjoyed at earlier exhibitions such as Cityscape Abu Dhabi in April 2009, Oman Travel Market (OTM) in February 2009 and ITB Berlin in March 2009.

We had many enquiries regarding our project and were successful in positioning Mirbat Beach as a world-class tourism and real estate destination and an ideal buy-in for up-market clientele and high-profile investors, Mariam added.

Despite the shadow of the global economic crisis, which has had an adverse effect on most countries and leading economies, the Sultanate has witnessed continued growth and future expansion plans in several key areas, including tourism development projects and investment opportunities.

Frankincense SPA by Chivana is one of the largest and fastest growing luxury hotel and resort spa treatment and management companies in the world providing a relaxing and rejuvenating environment, with a wide variety of therapeutic and exotic skin and body spa treatments, products and packages to choose from.

Extra Divers is a leading diving tour operator from Germany with 21 Dive Centres at the most beautiful diving spots of the world, offering enthusiasts unforgettable dives and the holiday of their dreams.

Famed for its fulfillment of the concept of safe diving combined with the best of hospitality as well as individual and friendly service at the diving sites, Extra Divers will offer exotic diving adventures in the renowned diving sites of Mirbat, he added.