Musandam: The development project of the historical Telegraph Island (Al-Maqlab) in the Musandam Governorate has reached 50% completion. The project aligns with the governorate's efforts to achieve comprehensive economic development and enhance sustainable tourism initiatives.
According to Oman News Agency, Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Shehi, Director of the Projects Department at Musandam Municipality, stated that the Telegraph Island development project is based on several strategic objectives. These include reviving the site's historical significance by restoring remaining structures and presenting them in an engaging educational and touristic manner. The project also aims to promote sustainable tourism to boost local community income, generate job opportunities, and preserve the island's natural environment and biodiversity, particularly given its location in a marine area rich in coral reefs and fish. Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen national identity by connecting new generations with the region's history and its role in historical global communication networks.
He emphasized that the Telegraph Island development project presents a unique opportunity to bridge the past with the present by leveraging heritage for cultural and touristic development while maintaining a balanced approach between preservation and modernization. The island has the potential to become a regional and global attraction, narrating a forgotten chapter of maritime communications and serving as a model for historical site development.
The project includes several key constructions: a multi-purpose hall spanning 731 square meters, a service building adjacent to the hall covering 130 square meters, an 8-meter-long and 2.5-meter-wide floating marine landing platform, a guardhouse at the island's entrance with all necessary facilities, a generator and fuel tank building, a shaded seating area with dedicated flooring, and a mountain walkway providing access to all facilities on the island. Additionally, two photography platforms overlooking key landmarks around the island are being built.
Al Shehi noted that the island holds unique historical significance as the site of the Middle East's first modern communication line. Its name derives from the undersea telegraph cable stretching from Mumbai, India, to Basra, Iraq, with Telegraph Island in Khor Sham, Khasab, serving as a transmission station in 1864. This makes it a witness to the birth of modern telecommunications in the region. Its demographics, natural features, and location amid sea inlets also make it an attractive destination for tourists, explorers, and adventure enthusiasts.
It is worth mentioning that the project recently received special recognition in the prestigious Architizer A+ Awards as one of the world's most notable architectural projects.