Madayn, previously the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) in Oman, was established in 1993 to manage the country’s first industrial park, i.e., the Rusayl Industrial city outside Muscat. Today, Madayn manages and operates ​​​ten industrial cities throughout Oman, in Sur, Suhar, Raysut, Nizwa, Buraimi, Rusayl, Samail, Ibri, Al Mudh​aibi, Mahas, in addition to Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) and ​Al Mazunah Free Zone.

Madayn’s observership with URBiNAT supports this agenda by opening for exchange of experience and lessons with other project partners how to advance this agenda.  Further, Madayn identified a suitable area for experimenting with a nature-based solution from the URBiNAT portfolio, namely the industrial city in Sur, Oman’s 4th largest city and a key traditional centre for maritime industry. Spanning 30 million square meters and a coastline of 8 kilometres, the area incorporates precious natural landscapes. Through dialogue with URBiNAT, Madayn opted to experimentally test water-saving plantation technology, the so-called Groasis Waterboxx which is suitable for planting in dry areas, and thus well adapted to Oman’s harsh climate.

In May 2020, a pilot project was initiated, comprising 50 native trees, planted along an attractive, seasonal riverbed without any use of conventional irrigation. The activity served as the starting point for integrating a range of Nature-based solutions incorporated in the master plan, creating a sizeable green zone, a “healthy corridor” spanning 40 hectares along a wadi adjacent to the industrial city. The area is set to feature botanical gardens and other arrangements suited to fit with the need of residents, tenants and other stakeholders.

The pilot plantation put in place is currently subject to careful monitoring as a basis for lessons how to proceed. The project is set to inspire a new approach to the framing of master plans for the future development of other industrial cities as well. A concrete example is Madayn’s park in Samail, where the suitability of corresponding plantations has been explored. Ways of further developing the approach, with residents and tenants actively involved and utilising smart sensors to support their engagement and further development of NBS may follow in the next phase. The objective includes achieving improved health and wellness alongside a more productive working environment. A favourable linking in the form of shaded walkways and bicycle lanes, between the industrial zones of the park and residential areas, is part of the picture, as well as a sense of increased community belonging and shared identity.