News / Another UAE-Oman multimodal corridor to keep Gulf supply chains moving

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Authorities across the Middle East continue to explore integrated trade corridors using multimodal solutions to keep cargo flowing without relying on port-to-port connectivity.

The latest move is an agreement between the UAE’s Sharjah Ports/Customs and Oman Customs to connect with multiple ports in Oman – Sohar will be the primary gateway, with Duqm and Salalah for the intra-regional logistics framework.

Authorities are claiming quicker customs clearance, competitive over-the-road freight costs and shorter cargo release delays as part of the integrated logistics programme, another example of how Oman has emerged as a critical corridor in evolving Persian Gulf supply chains.

And the Sharjah-Oman overland link builds on a similar “green corridor” programme the Dubai and Oman Customs authorities instituted in early March.

The Dubai authorities said it reflected “the spirit of cooperation and fraternal relations between the two sides”.

According to available updates, following the green corridor arrangement, customs declarations had shot up from some 12,000 in March to approximately 100,000 in April.

Under that multimodal plan, which works on both directions, shipments cleared through Omani ports are transported overland into Dubai via the Hatta border point.

Goods arriving at ports in Oman are cleared in accordance with the sultanate’s customs regulations and procedures before a customs seal is fixed to the containers/trucks, the authorities explained.

As multimodal activity makes rapid strides, Middle East port authorities are bolstering their landside infrastructure.  AD Ports’ Fujairah Terminals yesterday inked three land lease agreements to develop additional backup areas.

“The leased lands, with a combined area of 130,000 sq metres, will be utilised to enhance the logistics capabilities of Fujairah terminals, reinforcing Fujairah’s role as a key gateway for regional and global trade, and support the UAE’s position as a leading hub for logistics, maritime services, and industrial growth,” AD Ports said.

And Maersk has announced some relief in the form of 15-day extended free time for containers that had overstayed at Salalah and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) in the aftermath of the disruption.

“As part of our contingency actions and to support customers during this period, we are implementing temporary line detention solutions to facilitate the timely return of empty containers and to provide greater flexibility to help you manage your supply chain,” the carrier told customers.

But Maersk said the additional free-time window would be open only to local/cross-border cargo, covering both dry and reefer boxes, with no respite in the carrier detention tariff available for “change of destination” shipment cases.

Meanwhile, there are no signs of any sort of a major freight rate cooling in the overheated India-Middle East market.