Key facts
| Project | Malakai integrated tourism complex |
|---|---|
| Location | Barka, South Al Batinah |
| Site area | About 800,000 m² |
| Developer | Al-Mursal Trading and Investment LLC |
| Government party | Ministry of Heritage and Tourism |
| Resort | 51 units, rooms to 3-bedroom suites |
| Homes | 51 villas, freehold ownership |
| Signed | 20 October 2026 |
| Prices / launch date | Not announced yet |
What was signed
Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, signed the development agreement with Kirvi Pankaj Khimji, who signed for Al-Mursal Trading and Investment LLC. The agreement covers an integrated tourism complex that will be built in phases and mix hotel, leisure and residential uses on agricultural land in Barka.
What Malakai will include
- A luxury resort with 51 units, from single rooms up to three-bedroom suites, plus a gym, a spa and outdoor lounges.
- 51 residential villas offered for freehold ownership.
- A design based on the traditional Omani walled garden and the farmland of the Batinah coastal plain, with palm groves and water features, aiming at privacy and personal service rather than a large-scale resort.
Why the government is backing it
According to the ministry, Malakai is meant to attract foreign investment and widen Oman's offer in luxury and wellness tourism. It also expects direct and indirect jobs, work for local suppliers and a larger tourism share of GDP, in line with the diversification goals of Oman Vision 2040.
What it means for property buyers
Freehold villas inside an integrated tourism complex are one of the few ways non-Omanis can own property outright in Oman, so Malakai adds a new name to a short list. See how ITC freehold works before you compare it with projects such as Al Mouj or Muscat Hills.
Barka sits on the Batinah coast west of Muscat, so Malakai would offer a quieter, rural setting than the capital's waterfront complexes. With only 51 villas the supply is small. No prices, payment plans or sales date have been announced, and the project is at the agreement stage, so treat any early offers with care and check them with the developer and the ministry.
A project with a similar name, The Malkai at Barka, was announced around 2008 by a different developer and did not go ahead. The 2026 agreement is a new deal with a new developer.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the Malakai project?
- In Barka, in South Al Batinah Governorate, on the coast west of Muscat. The site is about 800,000 square metres of agricultural land.
- Can foreigners buy a villa at Malakai?
- The 51 villas are announced for freehold ownership, which is the integrated tourism complex model that allows non-Omanis to own property. Final eligibility rules come with the sales launch; read our ITC guide for how it works today.
- How much will Malakai villas cost?
- No prices, payment plans or investment value have been announced. We will update this page when the developer publishes them.
- Who is developing Malakai?
- Al-Mursal Trading and Investment LLC, under an agreement with Oman's Ministry of Heritage and Tourism signed on 20 October 2026.
Keep reading
Makan's summary of the sources below. Details can change before the official launch; confirm them with the developer or the relevant authority.
Sources: