As Oman celebrates the 54th National Day, it is important to reflect on the robust recovery of the travel, tourism and transport sectors. These sectors were unimaginably disrupted in the first half of the decade due to shutdowns.
The pandemic highlighted the fact that no country or region is insulated from global developments. The Sultanate of Oman and its GCC counterparts have been cooperating since the beginning of the decade on major initiatives to facilitate the seamless movement of people and goods.
One significant step in this direction is the reactivation of the GCC railway project, starting with linking the northern city of Suhar and the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.
The railway project, known as Hafeet Rail, is a joint venture with the UAE's Etihad Railway and is currently in various stages of implementation.
Once completed, the project will reduce travel time between Suhar and Abu Dhabi to one hour and 40 minutes, and to Al Ain in just 47 minutes, with trains travelling at a speed of 200 km per hour.
Recent developments also indicate that the railway network will operate a luxury train service on the route in partnership with the Italian company Arsenale.
The primary objective of the project is to enhance trade within the GCC by facilitating the transport of goods to and from the ports of Oman.
Oman boasts one of the finest road networks and most advanced ports in the region. The railway line is capable of carrying 15,000 tonnes of freight in trains, and agreements have already been signed with major core sector companies such as Vale and Shadeed Jindal.
Significant progress has been made, and Hafeet Rail has appointed Systra, a French engineering and consultancy firm, to provide comprehensive technical support for the network, including contract management.
Additionally, a contract has been signed with Progress Rail to supply heavy freight locomotives designed to suit the region’s geography and climate.
While the GCC railway project is still in various stages of development and implementation, another major landmark project of this decade is the opening of the direct road between Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Coinciding with the first visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince in 2021, the 725-km desert road through the Empty Quarter starting from the Wilayat of Ibri was opened.
Since its inception in 2021, the road has experienced heavy traffic flow, including tourists and goods.
Scheduled international private bus companies and Umrah tour providers operate on this route, reducing the road distance between the largest countries of the GCC from 36 hours to nearly half.
To facilitate movement in the GCC, one of the most eagerly awaited integration projects is the implementation of the GCC unified visa, similar to the European Schengen visa.
The unified visa was approved during the regional tourism and interior ministers’ meeting last year and is set to be launched in the coming months. With this visa, tourists will be able to visit all six countries with a single visa, and it is expected to attract 129 million visitors by 2030.
GRAPH POINTS
1. Rail line between will reduce travel time between Suhar and Abu Dhabi to one hour and 40 minutes, and to Al Ain in just 47 minutes, with trains travelling at a speed of 200 km per hour.
2. The railway line is capable of carrying 15,000 tonnes of freight in trains, and agreements have already been signed with major core sector companies such as Vale and Shadeed Jindal.
3. In 2021, the 725-km desert road through the Empty Quarter starting from the Wilayat of Ibri was opened.
4. The unified visa which will be launched in the coming month will further boost GCC tourism
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