Wednesday 01 / October / 2025
Opportunity Unleashed
At 2,000 square kilometres, the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) is the largest of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa. It brings together global companies in manufacturing, logistics, renewables, fisheries, mining and tourism — a connected zone that attracts investment, fosters enterprise and welcomes business and talent from around the world.
With the Duqm Economic Forum taking place 27-28 October, we spoke with HE Eng. Ahmed Al Dheeb, Deputy Chairman, OPAZ, about how Duqm is building on its logistics strengths while positioning itself as a leader in renewables, advanced manufacturing, tourism and sustainable urban growth.
What role does the Duqm Economic Forum play?
The Forum is our opportunity to show where Oman’s heading and how Duqm fits into that picture. When we held it in 2023, more than 400 participants including senior policymakers, CEOs, investors and entrepreneurs came together and we concluded a number of high impact agreements that weren’t just memoranda but commitments across hydrogen, manufacturing, transport and logistics. For me, the real value was the energy in the room – attendees could see the scale of what’s already under way in Duqm and the confidence investors have in its future. As we prepare for the Forum this October, we want to widen the discussion. We’re putting more emphasis on tourism, smart urban development and next-generation manufacturing because that’s where Duqm can really differentiate itself. We’re also opening the conversation on green finance and artificial intelligence. These may sound like abstract themes but they’re becoming very practical questions for investors and policymakers and we want Duqm to be part of that dialogue.
Duqm is often described as Oman’s flagship project. What distinguishes it?
Scale is the obvious difference. At 2,000 square kilometres SEZAD is the largest of its kind in the MENA region. But size on its own isn’t enough. What sets Duqm apart is that we’re developing it as both a logistics gateway and an industrial hub. As of June this year, cumulative investment reached US$16.4bn which shows a serious level of commitment from both international and local partners. When I speak to investors, they tell me what attracts them isn’t just the physical space but the integration. We have the port, the dry dock, the airport, the roads, all built with long-term trade in mind. That’s what makes Duqm distinctive. It’s not a single project but a connected city in the making that’s aligned with Oman Vision 2040.
Hydrogen and renewables are central to Oman’s diversification. How does SEZAD fit in?
It’s a fair claim that SEZAD sits at the heart of Oman’s renewable energy ambitions. With land, solar, wind and direct access to global shipping routes, the conditions are in place. HYPORT Duqm, a 500MW green hydrogen and ammonia project, shows the scale of the vision - world-class and export-focused from day one with more international ventures set to follow.
But as I always stress, it’s not only about production. If we stop at exporting hydrogen, we miss the bigger opportunity. What we’re building on SEZAD is an ecosystem from generation and storage through to equipment manufacturing, logistics and export. For example, the Hydrogen Corridor to Europe isn’t just a vision, it’s a practical route we’re developing with partners. And the region’s first major wind turbine facility, now under way in Duqm, will support that ecosystem. In short, SEZAD’s not simply fitting in, it’s positioning itself as a leader in renewable value chains.
What does next-generation manufacturing look like on SEZAD?
For me, next-generation manufacturing’s about combining new technologies with new business models. Take Jindal Shadeed’s US$3bn green steel plant. It’s designed with the future in mind, built to transition from gas to hydrogen and large enough to be globally competitive. That’s what I mean by next-generation – not only modern equipment but the ability to adapt as energy systems change. We’re also setting up a dedicated renewable energy equipment manufacturing zone. The idea is to reduce reliance on imports by producing solar panels, wind turbines and electrolysers here in Oman. Then we have examples like Karwa’s bus assembly plant. They can switch production lines depending on market demand. And all of this is connected directly to port and logistics infrastructure so products can move smoothly from factory to customer. The bigger point is Duqm combines advanced technologies – AI, IoT, automation – with abundant renewable resources and efficient logistics. That’s what makes it attractive to manufacturers who want both competitiveness and sustainability.
How are smart city plans being balanced with tourism development?
We see Duqm as a place to live and work as well as to invest. That means building the infrastructure of a smart city with AI-enabled systems, IoT for traffic and utilities, digital platforms for services. At the same time, we’re conscious that Duqm sits on a beautiful coastline. Nineteen kilometres of prime shoreline have been reserved for tourism. To date, around US$2.2bn has been invested in resorts, marine centres and attractions. We’ve plans for 21 hotels, 10 hotel apartments and larger integrated developments.
What I find most encouraging is that investors are bringing sustainability into their designs. They know today’s tourists are eco-conscious and they want resorts and experiences that reflect that. Our challenge, and also our opportunity, is to create a tourism offer that’s premium, sustainable and complementary to the wider city.
What’s your message to international investors?
My message is Duqm’s open, ready, competitive and leading change. We’ve made the framework simple – 100% foreign ownership, targeted tax incentives and a single-window system that reduces red-tape. World-class infrastructure – port, dry dock, airport, roads – is already operational. But incentives and infrastructure aren’t enough on their own. What matters is the business environment. At OPAZ, we work hand-in-hand with investors. We help tailor facilities, support workforce development and make sure companies can scale. That’s why I say Duqm’s more than a location, it’s a partnership. Backed by Oman’s long-term stability and vision, SEZAD offers scale, integration and flexibility across energy, logistics, manufacturing, fisheries, tourism, mining and advanced technology. The opportunities are here today for investors who want to build industries for tomorrow.
Curated by One Only Oman team at Make The Change, in collaboration with leading publications.
