Everything you need to know about Urban October 2026 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre: figures for this edition, conference themes, what it means for home seekers, and tips for a useful visit.

Urban October 2026: Your Guide to Muscat's Largest Urban Event This Year

"Urban October 2026" kicked off today at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in the Wilayat of Seeb. This is the exhibition and conference organized annually by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in the month of October. The events run from October 5 to 8, bringing together real estate developers, government entities, and planning experts from within the Sultanate and abroad under one roof.

We wrote this article for anyone who has heard the name without knowing exactly what happens there, as well as for anyone thinking of buying a house, a plot of land, or an investment unit who wants to know whether it is worth their time to visit.

Why October Specifically?

Choosing this month is no coincidence. October is "Urban October," a month celebrated by the United Nations to address urban issues, beginning with World Habitat Day on the first Monday of the month and concluding with World Cities Day on October 31. The Ministry of Housing links its annual event to this occasion, which is why the program features sessions on adequate housing and urban planning alongside sales and exhibition pavilions.

Those who have followed the event for years know that it is not limited to Muscat. In previous editions, activities extended to Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah, North Al Sharqiyah, and Musandam, ranging from forums and planning discussions to youth competitions. This year, the Ministry is talking about 25 accompanying events across a number of governorates.

From 800 Square Meters to Over 19,000

When the exhibition first started, its area was approximately 800 square meters. Today, its area exceeds 19,000 square meters according to announcements made by the Ministry. This difference alone explains how the event transformed from a small government exhibition into a platform where developers announce their projects and sign agreements.

As for the figures for this edition, as published by the Ministry in the final week of September, they are as follows:

Item	Count
Participating countries	50 countries
Real estate developers	160 developers
Pavilions	200 pavilions
Speakers from inside and outside Oman	100 speakers
Specialized working papers supervised by UN experts	50 papers
Accompanying events in the governorates	25 events
Small and medium enterprise projects	25 projects

International Presence This Year

The most prominent partner in the 2026 edition is the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, known as UN-Habitat. The UN delegation is headed by Anacláudia Rossbach, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the programme. The opening of the event coincided with the celebration of World Habitat Day, which attracted official delegations from several countries, including the Egyptian Minister of Housing who arrived in Muscat to participate.

Anyone looking for an apartment might not care about official delegations, but their presence has an impact. The Sultanate presents itself at this event as a destination for urban investment, and developers showcasing their projects to this audience strive to present their best offers.

What Is the Conference About?

姉 The conference revolves around four themes announced by the Ministry:

Housing: How people can obtain suitable housing at an affordable price, and the role of the government and the private sector in that.
Urban Planning: The layout of new neighborhoods and cities, roads, services, and their distribution.
Quality of Life: Green spaces, facilities, and the distance between home, school, and work.
Urban Resilience: The ability of cities to cope with heavy rainfall, heat, and population pressure.

The final theme holds special significance in Oman following the climatic conditions experienced by some wilayats in recent years. Anyone buying today benefits from understanding these discussions, because the neighborhoods being planned now are where people will live ten years from now.

What the Event Means for a Citizen Seeking a Home

The most important announcement by the Ministry for this edition is the launch of the "Your First Home" initiative, aimed at citizens eligible for government land plots. The Ministry had not published all the details of the initiative at the time of writing this article, so we advise those who meet the criteria to inquire about it directly at the Ministry's pavilion during the exhibition days rather than relying on rumors.

The Ministry also spoke about awarding tenders for new projects and introducing new ownership opportunities, alongside showcasing future city projects currently being undertaken by the Sultanate.

What Came Out of Previous Editions?

To understand the scale of what might be announced this week, it is enough to look at the 2024 edition. In that edition, 80 agreements were signed with a total value of 186 million OMR, including infrastructure for electricity and water worth approximately 82.7 million OMR, roads and tunnels worth approximately 63.2 million OMR, in addition to 77 usufruct contracts exceeding 20 million OMR in value.

Several residential neighborhoods with private sector developers were announced at the time, most notably:

Neighborhood	Number of Units	Area
Hayy Al Wafa	1,644 units	770,000 square meters
Hayy January	339 units	56,000 square meters
Al Sarouj Oasis	278 units	86,000 square meters
Hayy Al Nuha	116 units	58,000 square meters

And the event was not just about deals. Youth competitions were held such as "Basamat" and "Elevator Pitch" featuring 13 small and medium enterprises, an urban planning hackathon involving over 100 young people, and a challenge to build city landmarks inside Minecraft.

In the 2025 edition, held under the slogan "Sustainable Cities for Humanity," more than 70 working papers were presented, 6 banks and financing institutions participated, and events such as the Sustainable Urbanism Forum and the Circular Cities Summit were held.

House and Building Exhibition

Running in parallel at the same venue is the "House and Building Exhibition" from October 5 to 7, meaning it concludes one day before Urban October. This exhibition is tailored for those building or renovating their homes: building materials, interior design, furniture and decor, and smart home systems. In the 2024 edition, more than 190 exhibitors from 13 countries participated.

If you are in the stage of building a house on a plot of land you own, this part might be more useful to you than the developer pavilions, as you can meet suppliers face-to-face and compare prices in a single day.

How to Benefit from Your Visit If You Are Thinking of Buying

Large exhibitions are exhausting, and many visitors leave with a bag full of brochures and no decision. Here are some tips based on our market experience:

Determine your budget before you enter. Know the amount you can pay upfront and the monthly installment that suits you. Without this number, you will be drawn to offers that do not suit you.
Ask about the payment plan in detail. The down payment percentage, the number of installments, and whether installments are tied to construction milestones or fixed dates.
Ask about the delivery date and what happens if there is a delay. This is a question many avoid, yet it is one of the most important.
Know the ownership type. Some projects in integrated tourism complexes allow non-Omanis to own property, while others do not. Ask clearly.
Do not forget additional fees. Annual service fees and registration fees can change your calculations.
Photograph layouts and prices. Brochures do not always carry updated prices, and a photo helps you compare at home calmly.
Do not sign on the same day if you are not sure. Exhibition special offers are tempting, but real estate is a major decision worth at least a night of reflection.

Visit Information at a Glance

Event: Urban October 2026, the Urban Exhibition and Conference "House and Building"
Date: October 5 to 8, 2026
Venue: Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wilayat of Seeb, Muscat Governorate
Organizer: Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning
International Partner: United Nations Human Settlements Programme

If you visited the exhibition and left with more than one option without knowing which suits you best, or if you want an opinion on a specific project before deciding, contact us at Al Masar Al Wahid. We help you compare projects based on your budget and purpose of purchase, whether for residence or investment.