In its strategic and ambitious efforts to establish the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, the college adopted a phased infrastructure development plan to ensure both timely implementation and long-term sustainability. As an interim measure, a temporary site was designated and equipped to host core academic activities, including teaching, learning, and administrative operations. This transitional arrangement allows the college to initiate the program without delay, maintaining academic continuity and institutional momentum.

Simultaneously, comprehensive plans were developed for a permanent, purpose-built facility designed to meet international standards in medical and health sciences education. This state-of-the-art building is intended to reflect the institution’s commitment to excellence, scalability, and the cultivation of an integrated academic environment.

Temporary Facilities

To ensure the timely commencement of the MD program, a set of temporary facilities has been provisioned to support academic, clinical, and administrative functions until the permanent campus becomes operational. These facilities include:

• Anatomy Laboratories: The anatomy unit comprises two dedicated laboratories. One houses essential equipment, including humidity-controlled cabinets for the storage of von Hagens plastinated specimens, along with infrastructure prepared for the installation and use of the Anatomage Table. The second laboratory is designated for the storage and display of high-fidelity three-dimensional anatomical models from the SOMSO® collection.
• General Science Laboratories: While the current general science laboratories do not contain dedicated computing infrastructure for the digital delivery of basic medical sciences content—as previously recommended (refer to Diagram 2)—Dhofar University has confirmed that such sessions can be effectively conducted within the existing IT laboratories, which are equipped with adequate computing resources.
• Computer Laboratories: The institution provides computer laboratories with sufficient capacity and technical specifications to support instruction in medical informatics and other digital learning components of the curriculum.
• Small Group Teaching Rooms for Simulated Patient Encounters: A series of small instructional rooms have been purpose-designed to facilitate clinical skills training through simulated patient encounters, supporting active learning and competency development.
• Team-Based Learning (TBL) Facilities: Three dedicated TBL rooms have been configured to accommodate a combined total of 120 students. These spaces are equipped to support the interactive and collaborative nature of team-based instructional strategies.
• Lecture Theatres: Lecture spaces with a minimum capacity of 120 seats are fully operational, providing flexibility in academic scheduling and accommodating cohort-based delivery of core curriculum components.
• College Management and Administrative Offices: The administrative infrastructure includes a consolidated suite of management offices, faculty offices with designated secretarial support areas, conference rooms, and two student-faculty consultation rooms—ensuring the necessary governance and academic support functions are in place during the transitional phase.

New Building

The new building of the Colleges of Medicine represents a landmark achievement in educational architecture, successfully merging Omani cultural heritage with contemporary medical education requirements. The project establishes a new paradigm for culturally-sensitive, climate-responsive institutional design in Oman. The building positions Dhofar University as a regional leader in medical education while creating a lasting architectural legacy that honors Omani traditions and addresses modern educational needs. It represents an ecosystem that promotes well-being, calm, and collaboration, echoing the values of medicine itself through culturally-rooted, human-centered design.

Key Design Innovation

The design adapts traditional Omani courtyard architecture for contemporary medical education, creating climate-responsive learning environments that utilize passive cooling strategies, natural ventilation, and cultural architectural language.

Building Distribution

The more than 18,000 m² facility efficiently organizes diverse educational functions across multiple floors to accommodate more than 1,200 students and staff through a comprehensive building that includes high-capacity Learning Galleries, Auditorium, Teaching Rooms and extensive specialized Clinical Skills and Simulation Center for practical training with high-fidelity medical training environments together with plentiful social space for students. The building also houses administrative offices for staff, faculty and deanery, as well as essential support services including a modern library, cafeterias, and prayer facilities.