There is an urgent need for sustainable design to be incorporated into modern infrastructure, and more cities and towns around the world are doing their bit to reduce their environmental footprint. This need is urging governments, real estate developers, architects and designers to think outside the box in order to create innovative design that will significantly reduce the strain on the environment and help to conserve in the long run. Madinat Al Irfan’s vision for a City for the Future, a cycling friendly city, is one such kind of initiative that is in line with the government’s mandate of sustainability and will bring benefits galore to both the people of Oman and the environment…
In February this year, Madinat Al Irfan Development Company SAOC, a partnership between OMRAN and Majid Al Futtaim Properties, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oman Cycling Association (OCA) to exchange experiences on how to further the integration of cycling activities into its five-million square metre project.
Following the official visit to Oman by David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – the world’s governing body for cycling –, who was briefed by Madinat Al Irfan executives on the plans to integrate a comprehensive cycling infrastructure into the early stages of the development, the signing agreement was held. Commenting on this important milestone, Talib Omar Al Bulooshi, Executive Manager of Madinat Al Irfan Development Company SAOC, said “Madinat Al Irfan’s vision is to be a City for the Future. We aspire to offer its residents and visitors a planned, sustainable and smart mixed-use urban environment. Madinat Al Irfan is inspired by the best international planning practices and will be inspiring in its distinctively Omani contemporary life style offering.”
The collaboration with Oman Cycling Association will bring value to the development project as the experience and knowledge of OCA will help improve on the planned urban bikeways for daily transport and the more challenging off-road cycling trails that have already been integrated into the project’s Phase One master plan. “The Cyclo-city initiative with Oman Cycling Association is a first of its kind collaboration with a master developer in Oman and will hopefully become a didactic example for other developers to adopt in the Sultanate. Madinat Al Irfan cycling trails will become a reality by 2021, as the infrastructures of its first phase will become visible. This strategic partnership is in line with the government’s mandate of sustainability and strongly supports the health and wellbeing of Oman’s people. The adaptation of the cyclo-city philosophy in Madinat Al Irfan will support our cause to promote cycling as one of the pillars of a healthy lifestyle,” Talib Omar Al Bulooshi added.
David Lappartient applauded this initiative, saying: “Madinat Al Irfan vision is indeed inspiring and grand. I am very happy to know that cycling is already integrated into the planning of the city from an infrastructure and lifestyle perspective, an opportunity that not too many cities have. Cycling is an environmentally friendly form of transport that will deliver both environmental and social benefits for Oman in the long-term.”
Speaking about this environmentally friendly initiative and expressing hope for more people to resort to cycling as a mode of transport, Saif Al-Rashdi, Chairman of Oman Cycling Association, said: “It’s an incredible milestone to see cycling being integrated within one of Oman’s flagship new destinations. This initiative directly aligns with the government’s vision for sustainable developments, while promoting the healthier lifestyle that is at the core of our mission. Madinat Al Irfan’s geographical size and hilly terrain is a cyclist’s dream for a cyclo-city, that is integrated and safe to cycle through and full of challenges as well. We are so optimistic that with the success of this initiative, cycling will become more accepted as a mode of transport and will foster its development nationally.”
The mixed-use community located opposite the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre will feature more than 11,000 residential units comprising villas, townhouses and apartments, 100,000 square metres of retail space, 700,000 square metres of office space, as well as a number of cultural and lifestyle venues. It is to be noted that enabling earthworks for the construction of Madinat Al Irfan Experience Centre commenced at the end of 2019, with a target opening date for this first building being end of this year. The first phase of the project covers more than 250,000 square metres of land and is scheduled for completion by 2023.
