Oman Pitches Sohar Port to India as Alternative Access Point for Gulf Energy

According to reporting by The Hindu World, Oman has pitched investment opportunities in a new port to India, offering a potential route to bypass the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz and secure uninterrupted access to energy resources from the Persian Gulf. The development was highlighted during a high-level presentation in New Delhi, where representatives from Oman's Sohar Port sought to attract Indian capital and business participation.

The outreach took place on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following a two-day promotional event organized by the Embassy of Oman in New Delhi. The Ambassador of Oman, Issa Saleh Al Shibani, introduced Sohar Port and the accompanying Freezone to Indian businesses, manufacturers, and exporters with the aim of increasing Indian involvement in the industrial and logistical hub.

Speaking at the event, Raid Al Rubaiey, CEO of Sohar Freezone and Deputy CEO of Sohar Port, welcomed Indian investments and emphasized the existing economic relationship. He noted that India represents an important and growing dimension of Sohar's international investment landscape, adding that established Indian enterprises already contribute to the local industrial ecosystem.

Mr. Rubaiey stated that there is significant potential to further deepen this bilateral relationship through investments that can complement industrial clusters, strengthen value chains, and generate new growth opportunities. He highlighted that Sohar Port has already attracted over $30 billion in investments and maintains a cargo handling capacity of 72 million tonnes annually.

Strategically, Sohar Port is situated on the Omani coast along the Gulf of Oman, placing it far from the troubled Strait of Hormuz where Iran-U.S. hostilities have created significant shipping bottlenecks. The port's geographic position allows vessels to access Gulf hubs while avoiding the chokehold affecting the strait. Previously, Oman had offered the ports of Duqm and Salalah to India. However, Sohar Port benefits from its location in northeastern Oman, positioning it close to vital energy pipelines belonging to the United Arab Emirates and eastern Saudi Arabia.

The strategic importance of Sohar Port has grown amid regional security risks affecting other regional ports. According to a Reuters report cited by The Hindu World, Saudi Arabia has been offering increased crude oil loadings to Asian refiners via ship-to-ship transfers off Sohar Port following drone attacks that damaged its vital pipeline to the Red Sea.

Furthermore, the utility of Sohar Port is expected to grow as the upcoming Oman-UAE rail project links the port directly to the UAE's rail network, which is anticipated to enhance cross-border freight transport capabilities.

The Embassy of Oman has characterized Sohar Port and Freezone as a mega project jointly developed by the ASYAD Group and the Port of Rotterdam. The facility provides a comprehensive suite of services encompassing logistics, petrochemicals, and metals, alongside hosting the Gulf region's first agribulk terminal.

The promotional engagements in New Delhi underscore ongoing efforts by Oman to integrate its industrial and logistics infrastructure more closely with international partners like India, leveraging geographic advantages to maintain reliable energy supply chains amidst regional geopolitical tensions.