Oman Economic Review – August 2018

6060 August 2018

H

aving worked in

Petroleum Development

Oman (PDO) for almost

25 years, Ahmed BJ

Hassan Al Lawati, who

has recently taken charge as the

development manager of the Ras Al

Hamra residential development project

(RAHDP) in Muscat, is excited about

his new role and is looking forward

to ensure the timely completion of the

five-phase project in 2022.

Prior to assuming his current role as

development manager, Ahmed, an

instrument / electronics engineer by

qualification, worked as the facility

delivery manager for PDO’s mega $4bn

Rabab Harweel integrated project. “I

have also led the concept team in the

gas directorate and served as business

planner for the oil north directorate for

over two years. For almost 20 years, I

have served in the project management

field,” he says.

“The RAH residential development

project is indeed a new project for

me. All my previous postings were on

oil and gas projects with very few on

infrastructure projects. There is no

doubt that the RAHDP is a huge and

very interesting project. The team has

done a great job so far. Two hundred

and eighty residential units as well

as a golf course, mosque and LEED-

certified school have been delivered

as part of Phase 1. The PDO School is

the first LEED-certified school building

not only in the Sultanate, but in the

region. The overall project schemes has

a number of energy-saving features

and has rightfully found a place on the

tourism map of the Sultanate. PDO is

making good progress on what we see

as an integrated community township

development.”

Located in Qurum Valley, the RAH

residential development is set to

provide accommodation for 1,067

PDO staff once complete. PDO,

which employs people from over 70

nationalities, is the national oil and

gas company in Oman and one of

the country’s largest companies. The

281-hectare RAHDP masterplan has

been divided into five phases to provide

high-quality, low-density homes and

amenities in an environmentally

sustainable community.

The Phase 1 residential and

infrastructure package, which includes

280 residential units, an international

school, mosque and a golf course, was

completed in 2015. It incorporates

many sustainable “green” features

in its design and construction and

is in sync with the local culture. The

project masterplan is envisaged to

be completed by 2022 and features

a stunning residential and leisure

complex including villas, apartments, a

golf clubhouse, retail / commercial area

and a wellness centre.

The RAHDP is unique to PDO. While

Developing integrated

community township

The 281-hectare masterplan for the Ras Al Hamra residential

development project has been divided into five phases to

provide high-quality, low-density homes and amenities in an

environmentally sustainable community, says the project’s new

Development Manager Ahmed BJ Hassan Al Lawati in an interview

with Oommen John P

RAH residential

development

once complete

is set to provide

accommodation for

1,067 staff of PDO,

one of Oman’s

largest companies,

which employs

people from over

70 nationalities

OIL & GAS