Oman’s 3rd Largest Airport Starts Operations
A new international airport has opened in Oman to attract investors in the Special Economic Zone for Duqm (SEZAD), one of the largest special economic zones in the Middle East.
Duqm Airport, strategically located in the Special Economic Zone for Duqm (SEZAD), officially began its commercial operations on September 17 (local time) this year.
Oman’s third airport in importance, Duqm Airport targets potential investors in the Special Economic Zone for Duqm (SEZAD).
The extensive size of the special economic zone makes it a prime location for the establishment of numerous mega projects that cater to various investor needs. The zone comprises eight main areas: a port, dry dock, oil refinery, a regional airport, light-, medium- and heavy industries complex, residential-commercial area, tourism area, as well as a logistics services area.
Due to its strategic location, SEZAD not only facilitates regional maritime trades outside the Strait of Hormuz, but also offers lots of competitive advantages as a logistics and maritime hub for both regional and international investors.
In particular, with its stable oil and gas supply based on the abundant natural resources, the zone offers excellent opportunities for advanced petrochemical and manufacturing businesses. In addition to those advantages, a number of incentives and benefits are also provided to investors, including 100% ownership by foreigners, tax exemptions, renewable investment periods of up to 30 years, and easy access to experienced workforces.
The new airport, which features contemporary Omani design and amenities, is located within an 8-hour flight of two thirds of the world’s population. With regional and global connectivity in mind, a 4-kilometer, 75-meter-wide runway was built to handle all aircraft types and sizes, including Airbus A380. The airport houses the latest information and communications technology (ICT), security surveillance and navigation and meteorological systems to efficiently and professionally manage domestic and international flights. State-of-the-art technologies are also applied to electronic gates with advanced security systems.
A dual-carriageway with three lanes in each direction connects Duqm Airport to the Port of Duqm to facilitate the transport of goods arriving through Duqm to other parts of Oman and farther afield. It also improves access to the region’s pristine coastline and spectacular beaches in anticipation of year-on-year growth in inbound tourism.
In the meantime, Oman Aviation Group (OAG) is mainly responsible for providing the flight services connected to the airport. The aviation holding company, which was established in February 2018, is playing a critical role to enable the aviation, tourism and logistics sectors in Oman. OAG’s subsidiaries include Oman Air, Oman Airports, and Oman Aviation services. OAG is headquartered in Muscat, Oman.