Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
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by the new need to diversify from the mono-oil economy. The plan aimed at attracting private
as well as the normal state investment, unlike previous plans that were founded 100% from
State revenues (SCP, 2016). SCP being the Supreme Council for Planning.
According to questionnaire response, the extent to which a decision making on transport
infrastructure investment is influenced by transport policy is very high in Oman and this
evidenced by the significant role of the SCP in driving the entire development of the Nation – not
only transport. Furthermore, the connectivity of Oman to neighbouring states has necessitated
the importance of internationally compatible networks, though harmonization of legal matters
appears to remain less relevant.
3.6.2. Institutional and Organizational Factors
Although the extent to which decision making on transport infrastructure investment should be
influenced by transport policy is considered to be very high, the response to the question on the
content of the infrastructure plan is low. This anomaly has been noted elsewhere where master
plans are considered to be policies. There is no problem with this of course, in states that are
centrally planned and autocratic, policy is simply unnecessary. Although Fimotions has not
obtained information on the organisation, resourcing of the SCP establishment, indirect
evidence of its outputs provides a strong indication that capacity is highly adequate, significantly
because Oman is able to attract internationally qualified and skilled professional personnel.
Indeed, this is confirmed in the response to the questionnaire on the issue. As such
contemporary land use and spatial planning techniques are used in planning and the national
development plan prepared by the SCP is integrated. In Oman the private sector is not involved
very much in the transport sector either in the provision of infrastructure or operations,
therefore the planning process does not involve the private sector verymuch. On the other hand,
the level of coordination between various government agencies and departments is considered
to be very high.
Oman is signatory to the Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) that promotes economic, social
and technical cooperation and where possible harmonisation or technical standards to promote
interoperability between contiguous states. The first three items of Article 2 of the CAEU Statute
are pertinent:
Merging into a unified customs area
1. Merging into a unified customs area
2. Unifying their import and export policies
3. Unifying their regulations with regard to transit
The CAEU is also merging with the Agidir agreement of North African States and others as well
as the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA). Both of which recognise the importance of
harmonising technical standards as a means of improving international transport efficiency and
these fit into the Oman National Development Plan.
3.6.3. Technical Factors
The Transport component of the Oman Development Plan is primarily a list of approved
infrastructure projects (Omani Ministry of Land Transport and Communications, 2018). The key
projects and measures include: