New dams in Oman

Oman is tendering and preparing several flood-protection dams alongside its existing network of storage and recharge dams.

Key facts

Status
Tender and early works stages

Overview

Oman's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources is advancing flood-protection and water-storage projects. The main 2026 activity found is tenders and early works, not evidence that every announced dam is under construction.

Wadi Rijma, Liwa (North Al Batinah). A flood-protection dam tendered under the Climate-Resilient Flood Protection Dams Project, with Islamic Development Bank financing. Nine contractors reportedly bid in August 2026, with the lowest reported offer about US$50.6 million. It is one of four larger flood-protection dams planned for the northern mountains.

Al Dreez, Ibri (Al Dhahirah). Tendered in June 2026 and described as including a rockfill dam, spillway, auxiliary dams and channels. Contract award was expected in Q4 2026, which is a forecast.

Samad Al-Shan, Mudhaibi (North Al Sharqiyah). Royal Decree 53/2026, issued on 3 May 2026, declared the project to be of public benefit, enabling land procedures.

Lima, Khasab (Musandam). Royal Decree 52/2026, also issued on 3 May 2026, gave the project public-benefit status. The decree says preparatory work was under way, and the aims include reducing flood risk and supporting groundwater recharge.

The ministry also reported to the Shura Council in May that Oman has 85 groundwater-recharge dams, 116 surface-storage dams and 7 flood-protection dams in operation, plus Wadi Dayqah Dam.

What it means for buyers

Flood-protection and water-storage dams mainly aim to reduce flood risk and support water security. For buyers, that may matter when thinking about the long-term resilience of a wadi-adjacent area, but it is only one factor.

Most of these projects are at tender or preparation stage, so completion dates are to be confirmed. They should not be treated as completed protection.

Buyers should check the specific plot or project for flood-risk information and ask for the relevant approvals. Dams are not a reason on their own to expect higher prices, and nothing here promises returns.

The Off-Plan Oman team can help you ask the right questions about location on WhatsApp.

Timeline

3 May 2026
Royal Decrees 52/2026 (Lima, Khasab) and 53/2026 (Samad Al-Shan, Mudhaibi) issued.
June 2026
Al Dreez flood-protection scheme tendered in Ibri.
August 2026
Nine contractors reportedly bid for the Wadi Rijma dam in Liwa.
Q4 2026
Contract award expected for Al Dreez (forecast).

Frequently asked questions

Which new dams are being planned?

Reported projects include Wadi Rijma (Liwa), Al Dreez (Ibri), Samad Al-Shan (Mudhaibi) and Lima (Khasab).

Are they built yet?

The sources we found describe tender, public-benefit decree or preparatory stages. Completion dates are to be confirmed.

What are they for?

Mainly to reduce flood risk, and in some cases to support groundwater recharge.

How many dams does Oman have?

The ministry told the Shura Council in May 2026 that 85 recharge dams, 116 storage dams and 7 flood-protection dams are in operation, plus Wadi Dayqah Dam.

Official sources

Last reviewed:

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