Muscat: Oman Tourism Development Company ( Omran ), Oman's leading development, investment and hospitality asset management company, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oman Telecommunications Company ( Omantel ), the leading telecom company in the Sultanate, to construct its new headquarters at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) precinct in Seeb.

LEED Criteria

The MoU was signed by Eng. Wael bin Ahmed Al Lawati chief executive officer of Omran and Dr Amer Awadh Al Rawas, chief executive officer of Omantel at Omantel’s head office.

The MoU appoints Omran as master developer for the entire project, assigning responsibility for procuring the necessary design and contracting consultancies and providing management services during construction.

The state-of-the-art Omantel headquarters will comprise approximately 40,000 square meters of built-up area as well as parking for more than 1,200 vehicles.

The proposed project will also incorporate several environmental initiatives throughout its lifecycle to meet the globally recognized voluntary Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria set by the United States Green Building Council.

To secure the best designer for the project, Omran invited leading international consultancies to take part in a design competition. The winning design reflects Omantel 's market-leading position and incorporates visionary organization of urban space that transforms the new Omantel building into the futuristic hub of telecommunications in the Sultanate.

“Omantel’s selection of the OCEC to house its new headquarters is a testament to the potential the area holds for leading corporations choosing to relocate to this monumental development and represents a great addition to the landmark OCEC project.

Business Park

The OCEC precinct is being built to maximize open space, minimize environmental footprint and provide a world-class grade A business park with pedestrian zones and retail outlets that will be connected by comprehensive road networks and support infrastructure in the heart of the capital," said Eng. Wael bin Ahmed Al Lawati, chief executive officer of Omran.

"The new Omantel headquarters is set to provide employees with an inspiring and unique working environment that fosters innovation, creativity and hard work in a modern setting that reflects Omantel’s business ethos. The new project will enhance the productivity as well as the effectiveness of our operations which will serve our strategic goal to provide a unique customer experience," added Dr Amer Awadh Al Rawas, chief executive officer of Omantel .

This is part of the overall development of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre which is considered to be Omran 's most prominent project in the making and is set to transform Muscat's landscape once completed in 2016.

The OCEC will include a convention and exhibition centre, a precinct offering with 1,000 rooms over four different hotels of varied star ratings, serviced apartments, a shopping mall and a grade-A business park.