MUSCAT – Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has formally handed over the Oman Botanic Garden project to Muscat Municipality, marking a key milestone in the development of one of the Sultanate’s most ambitious environmental and tourism initiatives, the ministry said on Sunday.

In a statement posted on X, the ministry said the garden, located within the Wilayat of Muscat, is among the largest botanical gardens in the region in terms of scale and integrated components, combining geographic and botanical diversity with strong educational and tourism functions.

The handover paves the way for Muscat Municipality to oversee the operational and public-facing phases of the project, including visitor services, educational programmes and long-term management, as the garden moves closer to full public opening.

The Oman Botanic Garden is positioned as a symbol of national identity and a celebration of the Sultanate’s unique landscapes and rich plant diversity. Designed by Grimshaw in collaboration with Arup and Haley Sharpe Design, the project spans a 495-hectare site, with a 55-hectare cultivated garden set against the backdrop of the Al Hajar Mountains, around 35 km from the capital, Muscat.

When it opens, visitors will be able to explore eight distinct landscape habitats that reflect Oman’s varied ecosystems. Six of these habitats are embedded within natural ravines running across the semi-arid site, while two vast biomes recreate the cooler, drier environments of Oman’s northern mountains and the warmer, more humid conditions of the country’s southern regions.

Officials said the project will serve as a living archive of Oman’s native flora, supporting environmental education, scientific research and biodiversity conservation, while also emerging as a major cultural and tourism attraction