Oman is a site of pre-historic human habitation, stretching back over 100,000 years. The region experienced significant influence from various powerful invaders, such as other Arab tribes, as well as colonial powers like Portugal and Britain. At its zenith, Oman extended its reach from the Persian Gulf to as far south as the island of Madagascar, with notable territories including Zanzibar, Mogadishu, and Gwadar. The objectives of this research are to develop a comprehensive understanding of the history of urban development in Oman since 1970, and to provide insights into the decision-making processes that have taken place during this period. Additionally, it aims to explore contemporary decision-making processes in urban planning, including the perspectives of decision-makers and citizens on urban sustainability. The study seeks to identify both the challenges and successes in these areas and to formulate an improved strategy for urban planning that ensures an effective and equitable sustainable urban future. The study has been carried out in several phases, beginning with the identification of key dimensions of urban sustainability relevant to this research. It then proceeds to map the history of urban development planning, highlighting its main objectives, policies, milestones, and challenges. A triangulated methodology was employed to conduct this research and approach that consists of: historical analysis of milestones and projects within the development of town planning in Oman over the past forty years, semi-structured interviews of decision makers, and the assessment of behavior and attitudes of the general public towards sustainability through the use of focus groups and questionnaires. The research focused on several case studies from existing districts in Muscat, the capital of Oman. The study was structured around 16 urban sustainability dimensions (USDs), which serve as a comprehensive agenda for any in-depth examination of urban sustainability specific to Oman.