Muscat Bay, a joint venture between Saraya Holdings and Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), has broken ground on its new commercial venture, Village Square, coming up over an area of more than 14,000 sq m within the development.

The construction work is being handled by Oman Shapoorji Company (Osco), a local unit of leading Indian construction group Shapoorji Pallonji, and it is expected to be completed by the middle of next year, said a statement from Muscat Bay.

The new Village Square will include a range of facilities such as restaurants, cafes, a supermarket, a gym and a number of retail shops.

Extending over a 1,640-sq-m area, the building comprises two levels, together with a car park with slots for 81 vehicles, many of which are dedicated to people with special needs, it stated.

CEO Sheikh Hamood bin Sultan Al Hosni said: "The commencement of construction work on the commercial area marks an incredible milestone in our efforts to continue providing various high-quality facilities at Muscat Bay and to make it a perfect oasis for residents and visitors."

"After its completion, which should be next year, and together with the opening of the first five-star Jumeirah hotel, our flagship project will be an iconic addition to Muscat," he stated, while addressing the gathering at the foundation stone-laying ceremony.

"This is especially true in the field of unique real estate development projects and integrated tourism complexes that are set up to provide the community with wide choices of living, investment, tourism and entertainment both across the region and on a global scale," he noted.

Muscat Bay is one of the most prestigious integrated tourism complexes in the sultanate. Spanning over a 2.2-million-sq-m area facing the waterfront of the Gulf of Oman and surrounded by the tall mountainscapes, the premium development offers a premium level of privacy in its residences.

It comprises an exclusive and very limited range of luxurious residential units, ranging from unique duplexes apartments, and multi-sizes villas in Zaha zone overlooking the waterfront and parkland, to  villas on Nameer Island surrounded by the waters of the central lagoon and luxury homes in the Wajd zone on the mountain tops overlooking one of the most beautiful gulfs of the region.

Al Hosni pointed out that the Village Square had been designed to preserve the authentic identity of Muscat Bay and was therefore limited to just over 1,600 sq m.

"This is mainly to ensure that the remaining space is left for landscaping and for car parking, in order to create a comfortable atmosphere for visitors," he explained.

"One of the special features is the open space that extends to more than 75 per cent of the total land area,"  stated Al Hosni.

"Moreover, the design of the commercial area is inspired by Omani architecture, with a contemporary European touch, to create a sophisticated and practical look," he added.

The Village Square is situated opposite the lush parkland, which extends over an area of 18,000 sq  m and includes many public facilities such as swimming pools for adults and children, entertainment areas for children and multi-use playgrounds.-TradeArabia News Service