Alila Hotels and Resorts is on track to launch the first luxury resort in the remote mountainous Jabal Akhdar region in Oman by December.

Omran, the government-owned tourism investment, development and management company, announced that it has passed the 60 per cent construction mark of its hilltop project, the Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort.

The project is currently 8 per cent ahead of schedule and Nasser Al Maqbali, chief operating officer at Omran said that he expects the resort to become a pinnacle in the Sultanate's tourism sector and attract local and international visitors.

Set 2,000m (6,600ft) above sea level, the property will feature 78 guestrooms, six suites and two royal villas.

Designed by P49 and architectural consultancy by W S Atkins, the resort will also house a large luxury spa, a health and fitness club, a cliff-side restaurant and events space.

Exact details of the Alila Spa have yet to be confirmed but the treatment menu will follow the Alila philosophy of mixing locally-sourced ingredients with products from international brands.

Al Maqbali said: "We have successfully passed the construction target thanks to the efforts and dedication of our staff and contractors."

"The project has been awarded a 90 day extension for a variation order for constructing an additional building that was not part of the preliminary design, however, we will only use this extension if absolutely necessary."