The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Supreme Council for Planning in the Sultanate of Oman.
The RIBA will provide support to the Omani Government on a broad range of built environment issues including policy development, urban design, professional standards – including support for a number of Omani RIBA members – and community engagement.
This is the first agreement between RIBA and a sovereign foreign government and builds upon the recent RIBA Competition to identify a masterplanner for the proposed new town of Irfan on behalf of government backed developer, Omran. The competition was won by Allies & Morrison and Arup and the project is being supported by Design Council CABE, which is providing design review services.
The signing of the MoU took place in London during a visit by a delegation from the Supreme Council for Planning led by Secretary General HE Sultan Al Habsi, accompanied by the Omani Ambassador to London, HE Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Hinai and the British Consul General in Oman, Alastair Long.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, British Ambassador to Oman, John Wilks CMG, said:
‘I am delighted that this MoU has been signed. Oman has seen 45 years of extraordinary development under His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ visionary leadership. The UK has been a primary partner in the realisation of this vision in all fields. We look forward to building on this success. RIBA’s expertise and renown mean their growing partnership with Oman will form an exciting new dimension of the close and committed relationship between our two countries.’
RIBA Vice President International Peter Oborn added:
‘RIBA is pleased to be able to support the Government of Oman in its work and commends the Supreme Council for Planning for recognising the important role played by the built environment in contributing to sustainable development, economic prosperity and the preservation of national identity.’
ENDS
Notes:
1. For further press information contact Gagandeep Bedi, RIBA Press Office 020 7307 3814 gagandeep.bedi@riba.org
2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members www.architecture.com
3. Follow us on Twitter for regular RIBA updates www.twitter.com/RIBA
4. More information on the RIBA Competition for the Al-Irfan urban development project in Oman: http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Contactus/NewsAndPress/News/CompetitionNews/Press/Results/2015/Al-IrfanUrbanDevelopment,Muscat.aspx
Posted on Wednesday 22nd April 2015
