Muna Shaikhani

SOHAR Port and Freezone

SOHAR Port and Freezone is a deep-sea port and adjacent free zone in the Middle East, located in the Sultanate of Oman midway between Dubai and Muscat. With current investments exceeding $27 billion it is one of the world's fastest growing port and free zone developments. At the centre of global trade routes between Europe and Asia, SOHAR has an ideal location that provides unequalled access to the fast diversifying economies of the Gulf States and Iran while avoiding the additional costs of passing through the Strait of Hormuz. A new and uncongested highway network offers direct connectivity throughout the region, and SOHAR also boasts a newly opened cargo airport. Equipped with deep-water jetties capable of handling the world's largest ships, SOHAR has leading global partners that operate its container, dry bulk, liquid, and gas terminals including Vale, Hutchison, C. Steinweg, Oiltanking and Svitzer. SOHAR is currently home to logistics, petrochemicals and metals clusters that feed downstream industries with iron and steel, plastics and rubber, ceramics and chemicals. A new Food Zone is currently under construction with flour and sugar mills and space for downstream food processing, packaging and logistics. The abundance of energy, raw materials and world-class logistics support, coupled with generous incentives and a One-Stop-Shop system for all government clearances, provides a significant advantage for international businesses. SOHAR Port and Freezone is managed by Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC), a 50:50 joint venture between Port of Rotterdam and the Sultanate of Oman.