Muttrah Waterfront Project: What VA Group’s Port Sultan Qaboos Development Means for Buyers

Muttrah is about to get its most significant new development in a generation. In September 2026, international developer VA Group announced that it had secured long-term land rights to deliver a mixed-use phase of the Port Sultan Qaboos Waterfront — the masterplan that is turning Muscat’s former commercial port into a destination of homes, parks, promenades, retail and culture.

For buyers and investors, the announcement raises practical questions: what exactly is being built, who is behind it, can foreigners buy, and when could homes be delivered? This guide sets out what has been confirmed, what is still a developer claim, and how to approach the project.

What has been announced

• Developer: VA Group, described as the first international company to deliver a phase within the masterplan.
• Strategic partner: OMRAN Group, Oman’s tourism development company, which leads the Port Sultan Qaboos Waterfront masterplan.
• Size: about 18.5 hectares — press reports compare it to 23 football fields.
• Components: premium residences, a waterfront promenade, parks, sports and leisure, retail and cultural attractions.
• Timeline so far: partnership announced September 2025; engineering and design consultant appointed April 2026; land rights announced September 2026.

The wider masterplan by Grimshaw Architects also includes a retail pavilion, a heritage hotel, residences and a marina behind the historic Port Gate.

What the developer’s website adds

VA Group’s own project page for the Muttrah waterfront describes studios, one- to three-bedroom apartments, penthouses and duplexes, a promenade of roughly 400 metres, a large courtyard park and retail space. It also lists completion in the first half of 2029 and a 20/50/30 payment plan, and describes Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) status with freehold ownership for all nationalities.

Important: at the time of writing, these details appear on the developer’s site but have not been confirmed by government or independent press sources, and the project has since been launched under the name Al Yazan (see the update above). Treat them as developer statements until verified for the exact unit you are considering.

Why Muttrah matters

Muttrah is the historic heart of Muscat’s waterfront: the Corniche, the souq, the fish market and dramatic mountain backdrop. Until now, new residential supply there has been limited. A modern mixed-use district on the port land could bring a genuinely central, walkable waterfront lifestyle that differs from newer suburban communities such as Al Mouj or Muscat Hills.

Other public investments nearby reinforce the area’s transformation: Muscat Municipality began work on the Muttrah Square project in June 2026, and the Muttrah cable car is expected to open by the end of 2026.

Can foreigners buy?

Non-Omanis can generally buy freehold property only in licensed Integrated Tourism Complexes and certain government-designated zones. If the Muttrah phase is confirmed as an ITC, international buyers would be able to own eligible units freehold. Until that status is officially confirmed, do not pay a reservation fee without written confirmation of eligibility. Our guide to Integrated Tourism Complexes in Oman explains how the system works, and Can Foreigners Buy Property in Oman? covers the rules in detail.

Questions to ask before reserving

1. Which legal entity is selling, and what land and development rights does it hold?
2. Is the phase registered as an ITC, and is the specific unit eligible for your nationality?
3. What are the approved plans, unit areas and specifications?
4. Are payments milestone-linked or date-linked, and where are they held?
5. What is the contractual completion date and what happens if it slips?

Our guides to off-plan payment plans and property documents in Oman will help you review the paperwork.

Download the project brochure

Muscat Gates has prepared an independent brochure summarising the confirmed facts, developer claims and buying checklist. Visit the Muttrah Waterfront project page to download it and register for updates as sales details are released.

Frequently asked questions

Who is developing the Muttrah waterfront project?

VA Group, working with OMRAN Group under the Port Sultan Qaboos Waterfront masterplan.

When will it be completed?

The developer’s site indicates the first half of 2029. This has not been independently confirmed.

Is the project open to foreign buyers?

The developer describes ITC status. Wait for official confirmation and verify eligibility for your unit before paying.

Information checked 16 September 2026. Sources: Muscat Daily (14 Sep 2026), TradeArabia, Oman Observer, OMRAN Group, VA Group. General information only; not legal or investment advice.

Cover photo: Bilal Sarwar (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons