Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning is implementing a new approach to residential land grants that prioritizes beneficiaries’ readiness to build, marking a shift in the allocation process designed to promote sustainable housing development. This updated model was detailed during a seminar held on Monday at the multipurpose hall of the Office of the Wali of Taqah in Dhofar.
The seminar, titled “Together Towards Sustainable Housing and Urban Planning Services,” was organised by the Directorate-General of Housing and Urban Planning in Dhofar, under the patronage of Eng Khuwaidem bin Mohammed bin Salim al Maashani, member of Majlis Ash’shura representing Wilayat Taqah. Officials outlined a transition from a system characterised by manual draws, waiting lists, and in-person procedures to a digitally driven platform allowing citizens to select available land plots or housing units online and complete payments through electronic channels.
A key component of the revised process is a new weighting system applied to eligibility criteria. Financial capability accounts for half of the total assessment score, followed by the priority of application at 30 percent, family social status at 10 percent, and the applicant’s age at 10 percent. This framework aims to ensure that land grants are awarded not merely based on entitlement but on the likelihood that recipients will develop the plots promptly.
Ahmed al Maashani, Director of the Lands Department at the Directorate of Housing and Urban Planning in Dhofar, described the digital transformation as more than a technical upgrade. He emphasized it represents a reorganisation of the entire beneficiary experience—from applying and selecting land to payment completion—guided by clearer and more transparent standards. He underscored that prioritizing financial readiness helps prevent land plots from remaining unused and promotes the construction of completed homes.
Under the new system, following land allocation, beneficiaries have three months to finalize payment procedures; failure to do so results in application deferral for one year. Land plots are initially granted under a temporary title deed valid for three years, extendable by one year. A final title deed is issued only after the housing unit is completed. If construction is not finished within the designated period, the land grant is cancelled, and the application is similarly deferred for one year.
The ministry also introduced various housing options tailored to different needs and financial circumstances, including Future Cities, Plan Your Land, Sorouh Schemes, Choose Your Land, Acquire Your Land, Replace Your Land, and Sorouh Projects. The “Choose Your Land” service enables eligible citizens to select from available plots near their permanent residence using interactive geographic maps, with a selection window open for five days. Meanwhile, the “Acquire Your Land” initiative offers premium plots at subsidized prices, with government support ranging from 20 to 40 percent, allowing beneficiaries to secure land without waiting in line.
Updated regulations now also permit two eligible individuals to share ownership of a single plot, with doubled government support, given that the combined land area is at least 600 square meters. These measures collectively aim to foster a more efficient, transparent, and practical approach to residential land distribution in Oman.