Construction work on the multi-billion dollar Omagine Project is scheduled to begin in 2017 and should be completed by 2024, according to the Ministry of Tourism (MoT). Located in Seeb, the project features seven pearl-shaped buildings, which will host hotels, offices, residences and entertainment venues on one million square metres of land, the MoT said. According to Omagine chairman Frank J. Drohan, the company is in advanced discussions with several institutional and private entities in the United States, Europe and China to finance the project as a quite rational response to the present regional banking environment. (Times of Oman)