We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,
and the Law on the Expropriation for Public Benefit issued by Royal Decree 71/2023,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The project for the construction of a dam to protect against flood risks in the Niyabat of Lima in the Wilayat of Khasab in the Governorate of Musandam—specified in the attached note and masterplan—is hereby deemed a public benefit project.
Article II
The competent entities may seize, through direct execution, real estate and land necessary for the aforementioned project, and all establishments on them, in accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned Law on the Expropriation for Public Benefit.
Article III
This decree must be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.
Issued on: 15 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1447
Corresponding to: 3 May 2026
Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 1647 issued on 10 May 2026.
Note on Declaring Public Benefit Status for the Project to Construct A Dam to Protect Against Flood Risks in the Niyabat of Lima in the Wilayat of Khasab in the Governorate of Musandam
In implementation of the royal directives of His Majesty the Sultan—may God protect Him and save Him—regarding the construction of a dam to protect against flood risks in the Niyabat of Lima in the Wilayat of Khasab in the Governorate of Musandam, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources has taken the necessary procedures to implement the project in coordination with the competent entities. The work order for the project has been issued, and preparatory and mobilisation works are currently underway at the project site in preparation for the commencement of its implementation.
The mentioned project forms part of the objectives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources for the realisation of Oman Vision 2040, and it aims to achieve the following:
1. To provide a flood risk protection system by reducing the risk of flash floods, limiting the flow of wadi waters towards residential areas and infrastructure, and minimising human and physical losses.
2. To increase aquifer recharge rates and ensure their sustainability by enhancing the likelihood of water percolating into the subsurface, particularly in areas that rely on groundwater as their primary water source.
3. To contribute to reducing the costs of flood damage, including infrastructure maintenance and reconstruction, and to support economic activities related to agriculture, urban development, and investment by providing a safe and stable environment.
4. To contribute to the enhancement of social stability by improving the level of safety in the residential areas located downstream of the dam.
The project includes the following works:
– Construction of a dam with a length of up to 355m and a height of up to 5.37m of rammed stones and sand supported by pervious concrete in the axis of the dam.
– A concrete spillway with a length of 180m and a stilling basin of reinforced concrete.
– A water drainage outlet with a length of 250m equipped with a water drainage control gate.
– A set of monitoring and follow-up devices, such as groundwater level measuring wells, drawdown measurement points, lake water level gauges, cameras, and other devices.
– Temporary works for water diversion.
– Works for the construction of water channels under the dam to the sea, with a length of 10km, a width of 35m, and a depth of 2.5m.
Accordingly, the attached maps show the scope of work of the mentioned project, which requires the issuance of a royal decree declaring the public benefit status of the project in order to undertake procedures to expropriate the establishments and land located within the project boundaries and to compensate their owners in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the Expropriation for Public Benefit issued by Royal Decree 71/2023.
