Al Najd Agricultural City to host 13,000 residents
Al Najd Agricultural City, currently in the early planning and development stages in Dhofar Governorate, will feature an urban centre designed for a population of 13,000 residents while creating an estimated 6,500 new jobs across the 5-square-kilometre development.
The figures were revealed on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by design consultants tasked by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning with developing detailed masterplan designs for a self-sustaining agricultural development built on Al Najd’s fertile land and adapted to the region’s unique environmental conditions.
Well-known British architecture, engineering, and design studio Foster + Partners, working in collaboration with Dar Al Handasah, the Oman-based international multidisciplinary consultancy, said in a statement that Al Najd Agricultural City will also become Oman’s first zero-waste agricultural development.
“Informed by history and driven by technology, the masterplan will create a healthy and self-sufficient heart for the region. Our design is grounded in agricultural innovation and nurtures community to create a truly sustainable and resilient locale, which will serve future generations,” commented Stefan Behling, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners.
Backed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the Sultanate’s flagship agricultural city also seeks to advance food security and agricultural innovation while supporting economic diversification.
According to Foster + Partners, the agricultural city is planned in layers, with clusters of rectangular farms of varying sizes (10 to 200 hectares) radiating outward from a compact central town. Agricultural areas are also integrated into parks, streets, and public spaces, giving the city a strong green identity.
At the centre, there will be shaded walkways, public transport links, and key facilities such as schools, hospitals, cultural and religious buildings, retail outlets, and leisure spaces. It will also be linked to nearby regional hubs and farms to strengthen food production systems and support long-term economic growth.
In keeping with the project’s distinctly agricultural focus, a team of agricultural experts has been tasked with selecting crops best suited to Al Najd’s soil and climatic conditions. The list includes date palms, greenhouse tomatoes, and industrial crops used for raw materials. The initiative also aims to support exports and agro-processing, including dried and frozen foods, oils, compost, and fertilisers.
Additionally, the project will incorporate modern farming methods such as shade nets to regulate heat and sunlight, agrivoltaics combining solar energy generation with crop production, and aquaponics systems that recycle water and nutrients. Advanced systems will also be used to optimise water and energy management.
Water for agriculture will come from multiple sources, including groundwater, rainwater collected via mountain dams, and desalinated seawater. The project will carefully manage irrigation and prioritise water-efficient crops, the design consultants said.
“Guided by the region’s unique landscape and climate, we have embedded sustainable strategies within the masterplan that help create strong connections between people, place, and nature,” said Stephanie Tunka, Partner at Foster + Partners.
