ports

UAE-Oman Multimodal Corridor Expands Gulf Trade Route Network

Middle Eastern authorities are accelerating integrated trade corridors to sustain regional supply chains independent of traditional port-to-port links. Sharjah Ports and Customs have formalized an agreement with Oman Customs establishing a multimodal framework connecting multiple Omani gateways, with Sohar designated as the primary hub and Duqm and Salalah serving supporting roles. The arrangement promises expedited customs processing, competitive overland freight rates and reduced cargo release times. The corridor follows a similar "green corridor" initiative launched between Dubai and Oman Customs in March. That earlier program showed significant growth: customs declarations climbed from approximately 12,000 in March to roughly 100,000 by April. Under both frameworks, shipments clear through Omani ports, then travel overland into the UAE via established border crossings. Authorities fix customs seals to containers before transit, streamlining cross-border movement. Regional port operators are simultaneously upgrading landside infrastructure to support expanding multimodal traffic.