Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
129
 Air cargo business development: Invest in leasing 3 air freighters
 Oman as E-Commerce Logistic Hub
 Improve efficiency in air cargo clearance process
 Sohar Port Improve the quality of services by Oman’s Ports Sea:
 Feeder connectivity into the regional market Sea:
 Increase competitiveness and service deliverables of local logistics Port Community System
 Level playing field for Free Zones
 Rail connectivity 3 One Stop Shop with full integration of Bayan
 Land Connectivity to Saudi Arabia
 Bonded warehouses for goods in transit
 Enhancing cold logistics network
 Making the most of new opportunities
 Salalah Port Development Project Cargo Village
 Improving rail connectivity
 One Stop Shop with full integration of Bayan
 Land Connectivity to Saudi Arabia
 Bonded warehouses for goods in transit
 Enhancing cold logistics network
 Air cargo business development
It cannot be described as a visionary document that sets a framework for the sector to develop.
There is a good reason for this. It is self-evident that planning transport in Oman has benefitted
from the availability of open space, the mandatory nature of the planning process and the
availability of financial and other resources. For example the paved road network has grown
rapidly over the last 50 years and now comprises 62,240 km of which 29,685 km is paved,
including 1,943 km of expressways, and 30,545 km is unpaved (2012). Integration between
alternative transport means is certainly factored in, but the choices are limited to road with rail
currently playing a minor role. But it is expected that it will change.
Because Oman was sparsely developed country in the 1970’s, it was possible to basically plan
and design a road network from scratch with setting technical standards, such as expressway
interchanges which are spaced approximately 7 km apart, without worrying about existing
development. The road network is shown in Figure 36. The network classification and standards
built the level of service needed for each category of link. Intercity links and expressways being
4-6 lanes and collector and local roads on single lanes. Given its population of 4 million, and
length of paved km of 30,000 km the density of 750 km per 100,000 inhabitants is one of the
highest in the world. In the absence of any strategic alternative like rail, road transport has
provided the main source of mobility in Oman and this has been the stated ambition of
successive 5-year plans produced by the SCP. Despite reliance on one mode of transport only,
the level of holistic planning in transport sectors, in terms of the integration among various
aspects such as land use, multi-modal transport logistics and communication plans is considered
to be high.