Oman’s port profits pushed up by business expansions

Oman’s ports reported 0R230 million ($598 million) net profits in 2025, a 27 percent year-on-year increase, thanks to business and maritime expansions in the economic and free zones.  

The seven ports handled container capacity of 5 million twenty-foot equivalent units last year, an annual increase of 22 percent. 

The docks also operated cargo volumes of 143 million tonnes in 2025, an increase of 4 percent compared to the year before, while 13,576 vessels called at the ports, a rise of 10 percent from 2024.

“The growth was driven by strong expansion in the maritime, shipping, port and economic cities and free zones,” the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology said in a report.

The ministry also said more than half of the income was generated by Oman’s biggest ports – Salalah, Duqm and Sohar. 

Those three also have sprawling free zones adjacent to them. 

Investment in Oman’s economic free zones rose 17 percent in 2025 to $3.6 billion, AGBI reported. 

Further reading:

• Sohar Port to spend $220m on free-zone expansion
• Oman invests $200m in port to bolster re-export business
• Oman targets $5bn investment with port expansion