Government of Sultanate of Oman
Supreme Council for Planning
SOUTH Al-BATINAH LOGISTIC HUB
Redefining logistics movement in Oman
Ahmed Al Azkawi
SUPREME COUNCIL FOR PLANNING
SULTANATE OF OMAN
Supreme Council for Planning
March 2014
BACKGROUND

South Al-Batinah Logistics Hub is a Government
initiative to:

Support relocation of commercial cargo from PSQ
to Sohar and ease traffic congestion in the Muscat
region.

Position Oman as a gateway to the region.

Transform the logistics sector into an economically
vibrant sector.

An area of 9000 hectares is reserved for a
multifunctional development.

Of which, 2500 hectares are planned for an
inland port and warehousing facilities.

Initial construction and commercial discussions
to commence in 2014.

Full development to be completed by 2030.
SBLH LOCATION
South Batinah
Logistic Hub
Figure No: 05
SUPREME COUNCIL FOR PLANNING
SULTANATE OF OMAN
LOCATION ADVANTAGES
Located on the Interface
between Muscat Governorate
and Al Batinah Region
These Regions comprises 56%
of the Oman Population
High connectivity between
other regions
High Access Zone due to
Batinah Highway, National Rail
Network, Rail Yard, Batinah
Expressway, Muscat
Expressway etc.
Proximity to Muscat
International Airport , Sultan
Qaboos Port and Sohar Port .
Strategic location connecting
to GCC and other parts of
Region
Figure No: 09
SUPREME COUNCIL FOR PLANNING
SULTANATE OF OMAN
SBLH FUNCTIONS
Inland Container Depot (ICD)
Transportation and Handling
RESIDENTIAL/HOTELS
COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL
ICD
warehouses
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Light industries
Packaging
•
Repackaging/ Palletization
•
Labeling
•
Regionalization/ Manuals
Warehousing
Commercial developments
SUPREME COUNCIL FOR PLANNING
SULTANATE OF OMAN
Multimodal Connectivity
Rail Sliding and Stacking
Truck Terminal Parking and Depot
Container Handling and Maintenance
Shippers / Transporters
Customs
Banking / Finance
Logistics Service providers:
Freight Forwarders/ Custom House
Agents/ Courier
Residential:
•
•
•
Housing
Hotel and convention center
Entertainment.
FLOW NETWORK OF IMPORT /EXPORT CARGO
SUPREME COUNCIL FOR PLANNING
SULTANATE OF OMAN
PROJECT PHASES
Phase 0
Ph
Log
Com.
Res.
Ind.
Flex
0
150
0
0
0
0
Wadi line
8
Phase 1
Ph
Log
Com.
Res.
Ind.
Flex
0
150
0
0
0
0
1
556
220
0
176
0
9
Phase 2
Ph
Log
Com.
Res.
Ind.
Flex
0
150
0
0
0
0
1
556
220
0
176
0
2
571
481
642
297
452
Unit = hectare
10
Phase 3
600
730
210
Unit = hectare
Ph
Log
Com.
Res.
Ind.
Flex
0
150
0
0
0
0
1
556
220
0
176
0
2
571
481
642
297
452
3
870
-
800
380
11
1028
KEY DRIVERS
 Promote Oman as a Gateway to the region.
Port Sultan Qaboos
 Build a state-of-the-art facility, which offers onestop-shop services to logistics providers and
customers
 Support planned shifting of container and
general cargo activities from PSQ to Port of
Sohar.
 Relocating of some of industrial and
logistics/warehousing facilities from Ghala/Wadi Ghala Industrial Area
Al-Kabir in Muscat.
 Facilitate growth of private sector logistics and
industrial activities.
 Reduce
commercial truck related traffic
congestion in Muscat Governorate.
SOCIO –ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
 Socio- Economic:
 Creation of direct and indirect jobs.
 Business revenues.
 Opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SME).
 Increase logistics contribution to the GDP.
 Environmental benefits:
 It can help in shifting the goods movement by road to
rail and reduce pollution levels.
 Reduce empty containers traffic on the road.
CONCLUSIONS
WAYFORWARD
 The South Al-Batinah Logistics Hub is key in realising the
government’s vision to grow logistics into an important sector of
its economy and promote Oman as a regional hub.
 The project is moving forward steadily with the initial phases
planned for construction in 2014.
 The remaining phases are part of a comprehensive study which is
underway.