Media

Having advanced infrastructure and all necessary services and facilities, the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) – a zone overseen by the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) - is ready to draw in investments in different sectors.

SEZAD has a state-of-art infrastructure with an international airport, a multi-purpose 3-berth port and modern roads connecting different investment zones to meet the needs of industrial, commercial, logistical and oil derivatives projects in the zone.

Due to its several comparative and competitive advantages, SEZAD is well-positioned to establish itself as a regional hub for marine transportation and a logistics supply gateway for the Gulf region. Thanks to its strategic location on the Arabian Sea, all the way down to the Indian Ocean, it has a strategic advantage of being close to consumer markets in Asia and Africa and on international shipping routes connecting the East and the West.

Given its the fish wealth, its proximity to oil and gas production plants, and its minerals that can be used in industrial projects, SEZAD can be an integrated industrial hub for the manufacturing industries that rely on natural raw materials in Al-Wusta Governorate.

Having year-round solar and wind energy helps SEZAD’s renewable energy and green industries projects thrive.

Duqm Refinery, which stated its operation in 2023, is one of SEZAD’s most important large industrial projects and serves as a driving force for the establishment of a variety of industrial projects that rely on the products of the refinery.

Among SEZAD’s important investment opportunities are the establishment of refineries, and oil storage facilities, heavy and petrochemical industries, medium and light industries, storage and logistics, tourism, the establishment of hotels and tourist resorts, the healthcare and therapeutic services, the establishment of hospitals and health centers, private schools, training institutes university and colleges, the commercial projects, the establishment of commercial complexes and sports facilities, the mining projects, fish and food industries, real estate development, artificial intelligence, drone experiments with allocated an area of 18 square kilometers, and clean energy, green hydrogen and ammonia projects with allocated an area of 250 square kilometers.

SEZAD offers a range of benefits, incentives, and exemptions, including income tax exemptions and customs tax exemption for goods imported from abroad and goods exported from abroad, the right to use state-owned lands, and providing projects with all necessary services through a one-stop shop.

SEZAD’s most important projects include the Port of Duqm, the Dry Dock, the multi-purpose Fishing Port, the Fish and Food Industries Complex, Duqm Airport, Duqm Refinery, Ras Markaz Oil Storage Station, the Integrated Power and Water Plant, the Sebacic Acid Refinery, Karwa Motors, Vulcan Green Iron Plant, HYPORT Duqm, the Duqm HongTong Piping Plant (Reinforced Thermopolyethlene Pipes), and the Renaissance Village in Duqm (Labour Village).

SEZAD also has a number of hotel facilities, including: the Crowne Plaza Hotel Duqm, the Park Inn Hotel and Resort Duqm, in addition to several 3-star, 2-star and 1-star hotels, and guest houses.

H.E. Taher bin Mabkhout Al-Junaibi, First Vice- President of Majlis A'Shura and Duqm Representative, said that SEZAD is one of the government's creative tools for achieving the economic diversity and fostering the economic resilience.

Al-Junaibi added in a statement to the Oman News Agency that the SEZAD has many diverse economic projects, such as ports, airport, dry dock and Duqm refinery, which will help add value to the zone, and other plants that rely on the products of the refinery.

He pointed out that these projects would add economic value to the zone by drawing in foreign capital, creating a favorable and integrated investment and business environment, sharing technology and knowledge, strengthening the role of small and medium-sized businesses, and creating jobs for residents of Al-Wusta Governorate and other governorates in the Sultanate.

Sheikh Ali bin Sulayem Al-Junaibi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Ghalbi International Engineering and Contracting LLC, explained that economic projects in Al-Wusta Governorate in general and in Duqm in particular are witnessing a remarkable growth.

He told the Oman News Agency that these projects and investments in SEZAD have helped revitalize many production and commercial sectors, develop community and boost infrastructure in Al-Wusta Governorate.

He also pointed out that the opening of Duqm Refinery is the start point of the establishment of large projects in petrochemicals, oil derivatives and other manufacturing industries, which will create promising opportunities for entrepreneurs and job opportunities on continuous basis in the coming years.

Khalid bin Ali Al-Junaibi, an investor from Al-Wusta Governorate, said that the government has allocated, as part of its economic and investment vision for the governorate, a special economic zone at Duqm to be an incubator for major local and foreign investments.

The Sultanate of Oman's economy is growing as a result of these investments, he said in a statement to the Oman News Agency. He also mentioned that the SEZAD Administration is trying to boost these investments by providing facilities and incentives to both domestic and foreign investors.