Managed by one integrated Authority to ensure customers can take advantage of both its deep-sea port and free zone facilities and opportunities, SOHAR Port and Freezone is a 50:50 joint venture between the Port of Rotterdam and the Sultanate of Oman.

Situated midway between Muscat and Dubai and at the centre of the important global trade routes between Asia and Europe, SOHAR saw its first vessel berth in 2004. The port is equipped with deep-water jetties capable of handling the world’s largest ships and currently handles in excess of one million MT of sea cargo each week. With multinational investments to-date of over US$29bn it has been one of the world’s fastest growing port and free zone developments with several well established industrial clusters, including for metals, petrochemicals and logistics.

SOHAR provides unequalled access to the fast diversifying economies of the GCC while avoiding the additional costs of passing through the congested Strait of Hormuz. The existing road network and airport provide direct connectivity to all GCC countries. With a total current size of more than 65 km2, currently new expansions for both the port and free zone are being planned.

Metals Cluster

Vale from Brazil has established its highly successful steel pelletizing plant bringing in the largest vessels in the world to its 25m jetty. In addition, SOHAR incorporates Jindal Shadeed from India as well as Sohar Steel, Harsco and several other facilities. A 25 MW solar power plant has been put in place to provide competitive electricity to one of the ferrochrome facilities. More industrial solar solutions are being developed.

Petrochemical Cluster

This houses a 200,000 barrel per day OQ refinery, a new plastics plant producing 1.5mn MT polypropylene and polyethylene and a methanol plant. The Oiltanking terminal provides tank storage and operates a tank terminal for oils, gases and chemicals. MARSA LNG, a venture comprised of TOTAL S.A. and OQ, is developing a state of the art LNG liquefaction plant and bunkering facility at SOHAR Port.

Logistics Cluster

Hutchison Ports Sohar operates the 1.6mn TEU container terminal in the port. The dry bulk, break bulk and RoRo terminal is operated by C. Steinweg Oman. All leading quarries export their aggregates through the Steinweg terminal. To complete the logistics cluster, several vehicle, open yard and warehouse operators are active in the free zone, including cold storage facilities.

Food Cluster

Recently a fourth cluster was added with the launch of the Sohar Food Zone. It offers the region’s first dedicated agro bulk terminal with integrated facilities for food manufacturing, packaging and food logistics. Also under development are new grain silos, a sugar refinery and a soy crushing and edible oils facility.

INCENTIVES

• Access to gas, electricity, solar power, water
• 100% foreign ownership permitted
• Long-term leases (industrial or logistical use)
• 0% personal income tax
• Corporate tax in the free zone for 25 years, free repatriation of capital and profit
• Experience with FTA with the US and other countries
• Highway links to Muscat, the UAE and Saudi Arabia
• Low local labour requirements (15%)
• No import or re-export duties
• Full support “one-stop-shop” service provided for company registration, licensing and visas