Regions
From The Report: Oman 2016
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In recognition of its varied physical, ethnic and cultural landscape, Oman has long been divided into regions, with the government and the sultan keen to achieve a much more equitable and sustainable economic balance between them. Oman’s current long-term development plan includes provisions targeting this goal, as well as plans focused on greater regional authority. Special economic zones (SEZs) are at the heart of this strategy. The city of Sohar is quickly becoming an entrepreneurial centre as it encourages SMEs to locate to its free zone in order to promote sustainable economic growth in the region. Meanwhile, further south, the Port of Duqm is at the heart of the SEZ being established in the sparsely populated central region that is home to Oman’s oil and gas industry. Further south still, the Salalah Free Zone is home to one of the world’s foremost trans-shipment hubs due to its strategic location between key East African, South Asian and Gulf routes. This chapter contains interviews with Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri, Chairman, Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm; and Sheikh Aimen Al Hosni, CEO, Oman Airports Management Company.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Coming together: A number of logistics projects are under way to connect industrial areas and improve regional connections
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Covering some 309,000 sq km and home to landscapes as varied as rugged mountains, long coastlines, rocky deserts, fertile oases and land watered by monsoon rains, Oman is a large and diverse country. Its 4.3m inhabitants also hail from a number of different ethnic and linguistic groups, tribes and nations, with this variety also evident in the sultanate’s cultural and social traditions. In recognition of this rich multiplicity, the country has long been divided into regions, with the government…

Interview

Zone of prosperity: OBG talks to Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri, Chairman, Special Economic Zone Authority Duqm (SEZAD)
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Interview:Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri What impact, if any, will the oil price slump have on the construction of the Duqm project? YAHYA BIN SAID BIN ABDULLAH AL JABRI: In fact, we are not worried about the oil price slump, as we have already passed this phase. The critical phase of the project that could have been affected by the price slump was the implementation of development. Now that we are past this, the development has already begun and is far less likely to slow due to external…

Interview

Advanced cooperation: OBG talks to Sheikh Aimen Al Hosni, CEO, Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC)
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Interview:Sheikh Aimen Al Hosni To what extent will the drop in oil revenues place a greater strain on the development of Muscat International Airport? SHEIKH AIMEN AL HOSNI: The decline in oil revenues has undoubtedly had an adverse impact on the world’s economies. However, global indicators show that airlines have significantly benefited from this decline, which has in turn contributed towards increased global travel demand. But compared with the rest of the world, such indicators remain…

Analysis

Behind the scenes: SMEs and smaller industrial estates provide economic support away from major centres and industries
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In addition to the three major port and free zone complexes at Sohar, Duqm and Salalah, a handful of industrial estates and zones are also operating around the sultanate. Aimed at diversifying industry and boosting incomes in governorates beyond the capital regions, these facilities also face some of the same challenges as the larger zones. One of the key hurdles will be developing local businesses, and, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with these often unsung heroes of the…