Al Buraimi Integrated Urban Development: A strategic approach towards resilience All rights reserved: Technische Universität Berlin Urban Management Program Editors: Sonja Nebel Jesús Salcedo V. Authors: Jesús Salcedo V. Pedro Becerra Panagiotis Achamnos Florencia Carvajal Ana Alcántara Sonja Nebel Proofreading: Shane O’Hanlon Website: www.urbanmanagement.tu-berlin.de © Al Buraimi, A Strategic Approach towards Integrated Urban Development and Resilient Urban Management Layout by Jesus Salcedo V www.js-arquitectos.com 2 Al Buraimi Integrated Urban Development: A strategic approach towards resilience Al Buraimi Integrated Urban Development: A strategic approach towards resilience Berlin, 2015 Technische Universität Berlin Urban Management Program 3 Foreword The aspirations of communities evolve and change with the requirements and development of societies. Cities and towns are beautiful places that contribute to the variety of cultures and to the quality of life of communities in our diverse world. The Buraimi governorate with a history of intra-regional trade and a meeting ground of trading convoys was indicated as part of Twam, and the well known Al Buraimi oasis. Out of a desire for further development in the cities of Al Buraimi governorate, research institutions from Oman and abroad have been involved. The cooperation between the Municipal Council in Al Buraimi Governorate and the Technical University of Berlin brings in the Urban Management Master Program to evaluate the current situation and policies in the sectors covered by the studies of the program. It is our goal that such cooperation serves as a model for further efforts with academic and research institutions of urban planning. The results of this cooperation will contribute in the formation of better government for the civil society and to enriching the knowledge about urban planning, public transport, tourism and architecture. 4 Al Buraimi Integrated Urban Development: A strategic approach towards resilience Advancing the municipal sector in the cities of the world towards innovation, it is important to localize innovative thoughts within authorities of planning and executive bodies and activate the role of private sector as well as to encourage creative locals to play an active role in the formation of the civil character of modern cities. Such an approach will significantly contribute to the development, the culture and economy of the Sultanate of Oman. On behalf of the people of Al Buraimi Governorate, myself and all municipal council and government institutions’ staff, I extend our thanks to the Technical University of Berlin - Urban Management Program- and all Master students that participated in the studies and co-operation with the municipal council in the governorate. We appreciate the efforts that they have made for the success of the co-operation and we are looking forward to further co-operations in the future. Our thanks go to all my fellow members of the municipal council on their active role. Ibrahim Said Al Busaidi Governor of Al Buraimi Chairman of Al Buraimi Municipal Council 5 Foreword This report is intended to open a broader discourse on future development in the Governorate of Al Buraimi, Sultanate of Oman. The country is facing high population growth and a dynamic urbanization process that has been started about 45 years ago based on the discovery of fossil fuels. Not only in the capital city of Muscat but as well in smaller towns and former rural areas drastic transformation took place – and is still ongoing. An increasing need for jobs, social and health facilities, transport infrastructure as well as for housing is confronted with limited resources such as oil and gas but as well land and environment. The Governorate and Municipality of Al Buraimi have started to assess and reflect ongoing processes and invited five young architects and civil engeneers, students from the Urban Management Master Programme of TU Berlin, Germany to research on key fields of urban and regional development in the Governorate. Five key fields have been selected according to emerging challenges in the Governorate, such as how to handle the threatening decay of the historic parts of the former oasis Hamasa and Sa’ara, how to meet the high demand for residential plots, how to get them serviced properly and in time with fresh water, electricity and sewage systems, how to allow for appropriate transport and mobility within the city and how to balance expanding urban structures with remaining rural ones in the region with its particular constraints and potentials. This report describes the current state of development in the forementioned fields and presents recommendations towards a comprehensive strategic urban management in Al Buraimi, based on the overall goal of a sustainable and resilient future development to be managed within cross- sector coordination and interdepartemental cooperation. This is summarized in short-, medium- ,and longterm action plans accompanied by a chapter on further studies needed, on capacity development and on cross cutting issues related to all five key fileds worked on. 6 Al Buraimi Integrated Urban Development: A strategic approach towards resilience We hope to offer forwordlooking and encouraging findings that may foster a vivid dialogue - among all parties involved- about crucial issues of Al Buraimi future development. This report could have been elaborated thanks to the highly appreciated support –financial as well as technical and organizational- from the Governorate and the Municipality of Al Buraimi. The joint efforts taken from Al Buraimi Governmental Organizations and TU Berlin, Urban Management Programme made it possible to conduct a field survey in September/October 2014 followed by intensive scientific elaborations in form of master thesis submitted in February 2015. We wish to express our sincere gratitude for the opportunity to carry out this report in fruitful cooperation between Al Buraimi Governorate and Municipality and TU Berlin Dr. Sonja Nebel / Dr. Bettina Hamann Urban Management Program 7 Acknowledgments The team is most grateful to the Governorate of Al Buraimi, and to the Municipal Council for the opportunity to do research and field work, besides the generous financial support that made this possible. This research would not have been possible without the help and interest of His Excellency Al Sayed Ibrahim Bin Said Al Busaidi, Governor of Al Buraimi. The team would also like to thank the following Ministry Branches in Al Buraimi for their kindness and welcoming during all the interviews: Al Buraimi Governorate Office, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Al Buraimi Branch, Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs Al Buraimi Branch, Ministry of Housing Al Buraimi Branch, Ministry of Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Al Buraimi Branch, Ministry of Tourism Al Buraimi Branch, Ministry of Transport and Communications Al Buraimi Branch, Ministry of Transport and Communications in Muscat, Municipal Council of Al Buraimi, Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry Al Buraimi Branch, and the Transit Department of the Royal Oman Police of Al Buraimi. Many thanks to Dr. Hammad Al Gharibi for his initiative, guidance and welcoming in Al Buraimi. Likewise, thanks to the members of the Municipal Council of Al Buraimi for fostering this research. Special thanks to Mohammed Al-Badi, Sheikha Al Naimi and Mohammed bin Hamed bin Miftah Al Shamsi. Sinicerely, Panagiotis Achamnos, Ana Alcántara, Pedro Becerra, Florencia Carvajal, Bettina Hamann, Sonja Nebel, Jesús Salcedo 8 Al Buraimi Integrated Urban Development: A strategic approach towards resilience Table of contents Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................................8 List of figures .......................................................................................................................................................................12 List of boxes .......................................................................................................................................................................16 List of abbreviations and acronyms .................................................................................................................................18 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 20 Part 1 Current trends and challenges Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Rationale .......................................................................................................................................................................27 Urbanization background in Oman and Al Buraimi ..............................................................................................................28 History and urbanization in inner Oman settlements ...........................................................................................34 History and urbanization in Al Buraimi .................................................................................................................................36