Sunday 08 / November / 2026
Muscat: A lab on enhancing the operational efficiency of Duqm Port and its integration with the economic system commenced today in Muscat Governorate. The lab is being implemented by the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones in cooperation with the Industrial Innovation Academy, with the participation of more than 100 attendees representing 21 government and private entities.
The lab's proceedings, running until 15 November, are conducted through specialized discussions within each pillar along defined workstreams. Representatives of relevant government and private entities are participating with the aim of reviewing challenges and proposed solutions, developing and evaluating initiatives, and identifying implementation requirements and responsible entities, culminating in the preparation of detailed executive plans that include timelines and performance indicators.
The lab is expected to come up with a set of strategic projects and initiatives across its three pillars, supported by clear executive plans and follow-up mechanisms. These will contribute to enhancing the operational efficiency of Duqm Port, increasing handling volumes, attracting investment, and reinforcing its role as a logistics and economic hub supporting growth and economic diversification in the Sultanate of Oman.
The lab is structured around three main pillars, namely service projects, investment projects, and general enablers. These branch into nine specialized workstreams aimed at addressing the operational, investment, and regulatory challenges associated with Duqm Port, and at developing strategic initiatives and projects that enhance its operational efficiency, competitiveness, and integration with the economic system.
The opening of the lab featured a visual presentation by Dr. Ayman Abdullah Al Fudhaili, Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Innovation Academy, in which he reviewed the lab's fact file. This included an analysis of the current situation, challenges and available opportunities, proposed solutions, and a set of preliminary initiative proposals to be discussed and developed during the lab's proceedings.
The service projects pillar comprises two main workstreams. The first focuses on accelerating port-related procedures and services, addressing overlapping mandates among entities, and enhancing coordination efficiency. The second focuses on the handling sector by exploring ways to raise productivity, reduce vessel turnaround and cargo dwell times, improve logistics movement efficiency, and attract new shipping lines and direct services.
The investment projects pillar includes three workstreams covering targeted projects, localized projects, and leased projects. These involve identifying priority investment sectors, reviewing the master plan of the Duqm Special Economic Zone, cataloguing projects by phase, and studying the challenges facing their implementation and operation, thereby accelerating investment and enhancing the contribution of projects to the development of the port's commercial and logistics activity.
The general enablers pillar focuses on four workstreams: infrastructure, incentives, governance, and marketing and media. Discussions address assessing infrastructure needs and the port's absorption capacity, developing incentive packages to attract investment and shipping activity, defining roles and responsibilities and decision-making and follow-up mechanisms, and enhancing the port's strategic positioning and highlighting its competitive advantages in regional and international markets.
The launch was attended by Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, along with members of the Authority's Board of Directors and a number of chief executives of economic and free zones.
