{
  "id": 10650607,
  "title": "Growing Khorfakkan on its own terms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/growing-khorfakkan-on-its-own-terms",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T08:50:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/growing-khorfakkan-on-its-own-terms-1.500691860"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Khorfakkan, a city situated between mountains and the Gulf of Oman, is approaching a pivotal moment in its development. Recent plans for residential growth suggest that the city values maintaining its unique qualities while accommodating more people and economic activity. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi allocated a new area for a residential neighbourhood, adding to the 270 homes already under construction. The real estate sector benefits from increased supply, but the focus should be on creating a thriving community with diverse offerings. Successful UAE cities have demonstrated that well-planned residential growth leads to economic benefits beyond real estate. Khorfakkan's distinctive position, combining nature, heritage, community, and connectivity, sets it apart from larger urban centers. Growth should enhance the city's appeal rather than diminish it. Investment in Khorfakkan has long recognized its potential, and current development plans reflect this understanding. Integrated developments have been planned since 2022, integrating residential, hospitality, leisure, and commercial components with waterfront schemes designed around the coastal and mountainous landscape. The emphasis is on creating environments where residents and visitors can live, spend time, and contribute to the local economy. Thoughtful use of available development space, considering topography, infrastructure capacity, mobility, environmental factors, and neighborhood character, is crucial. Khorfakkan's future should reflect its uniqueness rather than emulating other cities. Balancing growth and preserving the city's identity is key. The challenge is to create more room for people, investment, and economic activity while maintaining the exceptional sense of place that Khorfakkan possesses. The opportunity lies in building its future around its distinctive qualities, ensuring it remains a remarkable place to live, visit, and invest.",
  "summary": "There is a point in the evolution of every successful city when growth creates a new challenge: how do you make room for more people, homes and economic activity without losing the qualities that made the place attractive in the first place? Khorfakkan is approaching that moment. Recent plans for additional residential development reflect something important about the city. Earlier this year, His…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}