Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) established the 'Oman and Etihad Rail Company' in September 2022 as a joint company owned equally between them to design, develop, and operate a railway network linking the Port of Sohar to the UAE national railway network, with a total investment of the project worth US3 billion.
The joint company will prepare the preparatory work and a work plan for the implementation of the project that includes financing mechanisms and the timetable, and then supervise the design, implementation, and operation of the railway network project.
The railway linking Suhar and Abu Dhabi ensures the compatibility of all standards approved by the two countries.
Through this project, which will link the state of Sohar in the North Al Batinah Governorate with the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, the two sides aspire to raise the efficiency of the supply chain system and ease the practice of cross-border trade, link commercial ports and economic zones to the railway network, enhance commercial and social connectivity between the two countries, improve the efficiency of logistics services and sector growth. Various industrial, economic, and tourism activities and linking industrial centers between the two countries.
The free zones in the Sultanate of Oman also provide investment opportunities for various Emirati private sector investments in various commercial activities and industrial sectors, thanks to the modern infrastructure that the free zones in Sohar, Salalah, and Khazaen Economic City possess, supported by integrated logistical solutions and an extensive maritime transport network, in addition to the facilities, privileges, and investment advantages. The competitiveness makes the Sultanate of Oman an investment destination for Emirati projects and investments to access their services to various global markets.
The Omani and Emirati ports are linked by direct lines to transport various products and exports, which contributed to achieving mutual economic benefit between the two brotherly countries.
The ports of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates are also considered a gateway and a major link between the continents of Asia, Europe, and Africa, and serve transiting ships.
The Sultanate of Oman has three main ports (Sohar, Salalah, and Duqm) that have international specifications to receive The largest ships, are equipped with berths up to 25 meters deep, sufficient storage space, container terminals, and advanced cargo handling technologies.
The dry dock in Duqm provides marine solutions and maintenance and repair services for various types of vessels, including more than 350 projects from the Emirati market in 2023 and ship sizes, recording a growth of 43 percent compared to 2022, which received 192 maintenance and repair projects for Emirati ships.
In the field of tourism, tourist facilities in the two countries receive many groups of tourists from both countries in light of the many facilities provided in this framework, and many joint tourism investments have contributed to attracting more tourists.
As for the cultural aspect, the two countries have closely and continuously strengthened cooperation in this important field.
Through holding joint cultural events and activities; The Sultanate of Oman participated in Expo 2020 Dubai and other national occasions and events between the two countries that embody fraternal relations and common historical ties.
The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the Ministry of Information, participates in book fairs in the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah annually, while various cultural and media institutions in the United Arab Emirates participate in the Muscat International Book Fair annually.
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