A rendition of Khazaen Economic City in Oman.

Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has been appointed at the lead consultant for the masterplanning, design and supervision work on Khazaen Economic City (KEC) in Oman under a RO2.6-million ($6.7 million) deal.

KEC is a joint venture between Oman Investment Corporation (OIC) and the Saudi-based Mohammed Ali Al Swailem Group (Masco). It was set up in March this year to develop the new economic city in South Al Batinah governorate.

Atkins will deliver full consultancy services for the integrated urban planning of the 51.5-million-sq-m city, besides providing a detailed masterplan, said the company. The scope of work also includes environmental and sustainability assessment, work on engineering designs for infrastructures and utilities, preparation and evaluation of construction tenders for various infrastructure work of the city besides supervising the implementation of the first phase of the infrastructure of Khazaen, it added.

Khazaen is the first and only integrated economic city within 60 km of Oman’s capital, and the second integrated economic city in the sultanate after the Special Economic Zone in Duqm.

On completion, KEC will offer attractive investment opportunities to develop and set up warehousing, logistics, light and medium industries, large showrooms and markets, hotel, residential and commercial projects.

KEC chairman Kalat Al Bulooshi said Atkins will lead the concept masterplan and detailed masterplan work for the project, which is expected to take around six months to complete.