A blueprint for mountain tourism
PLACEMAKING, LIFESTYLE
We use cookies.
Cookie Settings
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.
Strictly Necessary
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Analytical or performance
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Functionality or appearance
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
No results found
PLACEMAKING, LIFESTYLE
Client
Location
Size
Status
Sector
Discipline
Ecological sensitivity and tourism can be challenging forces to balance. In Oman, however, Al Jabal Al Aali’s vision to welcome visitors and bring sustainable new development to the Hajar mountains represents something new. The masterplan has been carefully conceived in harmony with the natural landscape and is uniquely of its place, with activities to inspire wonder in the natural world, from star-gazing to climbing.
TP Bennett has been appointed as the design team for the Al Jabal Al Aali Detailed Masterplan, Oman’s flagship tourism project, located 2,400 meters above sea level in the Hajar mountains. The project represents a new direction for Oman tourism that celebrates the country’s culture and heritage while creating an exciting destination for residents from across the region and attracting international visitors. The project is being delivered in collaboration with NJP Oman and Robert Bird Group, bringing together our extensive experience of masterplanning, urban planning, architecture and landscape with engineering, programme phasing and local stakeholder engagement.
Set across the Jabal Al Akhdar mountain range, the development frames views of the spectacular Wadi Bani Kharus valley. The masterplan centres on three villages: Eastern Souq, celebrating Omani heritage and craftsmanship; Western Cliff Village, offering hospitality experiences along the cliff edge; and Wadi Al Harbi Village, an adventure hub with hiking, climbing, and cycling trails.
The scheme also includes a range of cultural, leisure and active amenities, such as wellness facilities biodiversity hubs, a high-altitude training facility, and a centre for stargazing set within a protected dark sky zone offering glamping pods for an off-grid experience.
A variety of hospitality spaces, including landmark hotels and residential apartments are carefully set along the cliff with high-end retail and dining destinations integrated within a network of walking and cycling trails, a low-energy transport system, and a new cable car route connecting the wadi with the mountain.
Working in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in Oman, the appointment reflects TP Bennett’s commitment to ambitious and environmentally sensitive design. In Al Jabal Al Aali, nature is both inspiration and driving force, as the project treads gently, respecting the landscape.
