A’Rustaq: The South Al Batinah Design Hackathon, organized by the Governorate’s Office in collaboration with the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Al Musannah, commenced today at the Office of Wali of A’Rustaq. The two-day event, themed ‘An Urban Design with the Identity of Place,’ focuses on creating an integrated tourism project for ‘Khor Al Qareem’ in the Wilayat of Al Musannah. It seeks to merge the area’s environmental and cultural characteristics with modern technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

According to Oman News Agency, the hackathon aligns with the national approach to sustainable tourism and smart urban development, supporting the objectives of Oman Vision 2040. It features participation from over 125 students from 25 educational institutions, both within Oman and internationally, who have been grouped into multidisciplinary teams specializing in urban planning, architecture, civil engineering, and interior design.

The hackathon includes training workshops and consultative sessions led by experts to enhance the participants’ skills and refine their design concepts. On the concluding day, a judging panel will evaluate six selected projects based on innovation, sustainability, environmental and cultural integration, space efficiency, and AI utilization.

The top three winning teams will be awarded valuable prizes, with the first-place project set to be implemented in Khor Al Qareem. The South Al Batinah Governorate will retain the rights to the three shortlisted projects, with the option to execute or modify them for public benefit.

This event serves as a platform to empower Omani youth, showcasing their creative talents in design and urban planning. It engages them in developing sustainable urban and tourism environments that reflect community aspirations while aligning with national principles of sustainable development.