Muscat – In a step to enhance heritage tourism in Wilayat of Rustaq, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in South Batinah has awarded an engineering consultancy contract worth more than RO184,985 to develop a comprehensive plan linking the Imam Ahmed bin Said Mausoleum with Rustaq Castle and the historic neighbourhoods of Qasri and Bait Al Qarn.
The project aims to connect the key historical landmarks surrounding the castle, traditional souq and residential quarters, transforming the area into an integrated heritage destination that blends authenticity with sustainable development.
Dr Al Mutasim bin Nasser Al Hilali, Director of the Heritage and Tourism Department in South Batinah, said the initiative will highlight the legacy of Imam Ahmed bin Said Al Busaidi and document the historical relationship between the castle, the old quarters and the traditional market. He noted that the project will establish a cohesive heritage and tourism route, facilitating visitor movement between major landmarks and encouraging longer stays in Rustaq, thereby supporting the local economy.
The development plan includes heritage-style pedestrian walkways paved with materials in keeping with the historic character of the area, upgrades to drainage and lighting networks, improved traffic management to ease congestion, and the removal of visual clutter. Building façades in the historic quarters will be standardised, while landmarks along the route will be restored and maintained.
Additional components include unified directional signage, visitor centres, enhanced safety measures, seating and rest areas, and opportunities for residents to establish heritage-compatible investments and small businesses.
Al Hilali stressed that the project will revitalise commercial activity in the traditional souq, support artisans and small and medium-sized enterprises, and create direct and indirect employment opportunities for local residents in tourism, guiding and related services. It will also strengthen community engagement in preserving and investing in heritage assets.
He added that the initiative will help revitalise historic neighbourhoods, particularly Qasri and Bait Al Qarn, preserve their architectural identity, and improve the urban landscape and infrastructure around Rustaq Castle, ensuring visual and functional integration between heritage sites and modern facilities.
Describing the project as having wide-ranging cultural, tourism, economic and social impact, Al Hilali said it will enhance Rustaq’s standing as a historic centre linked to the rise of the Al Busaidi dynasty, while increasing protection of landmarks from neglect and encroachment.
Further projects to restore heritage houses in Bait Al Qarn quarter and complementary initiatives to strengthen links between historic landmarks in the governorate are expected to be announced in due course, he added.
