DUQM Special Economic Zone
Sultanate of Oman
In its long-term vision, the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD) is quite unlike anything the Middle East has to offer. Overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean beyond, Duqm SEZ has an unparalleled advantage in positioning your business within proximity to some of the fastest-growing markets in the Middle East, South Asia, East Africa and beyond. Duqm is your gateway to regional and global trade.
Geographical clustering is at the heart of SEZAD’s strategy for attracting investment across an array of industrial and economic activities. Clustering is a recipe for boosting prosperity by bringing a critical mass of investors, service providers, customers, suppliers, training institutions and others into close proximity.
Duqm’s unique natural site stretches over 2000 sq. km. along 90 km. of coastline. It is the Middle East’s most promising expanse of industrial and economic real estate. An undertaking of this magnitude requires strategic planning that maximizes Duqm’s comparative advantages as well as the nation’s long-term developmental goals. This has been accomplished with the talent of the world’s finest urban planners. SEZAD’s master plan establishes a framework to guide development over the long term.
Eight distinct sub-zones are each dedicated to a specific type of investment and activity.
• Industry
• Seaport and Dry Dock
• Tourism
• Business
• Fisheries
• Logistics
• Residential Housing
• Education and Training
THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE
260 sq. km. have been allocated for industrial use, to be interlinked with all modes of transportation.
Heavy Industry
Heavy industry requires specialized infrastructure, with customized large-scale spaces for heavy equipment, large machine tools and massive buildings. The potential environmental impact will be taken into careful consideration.
Sub-sectors
• Ship Building
• Oil Refining
• Steel Milling
• Coke Processing
• Paper and Pulp Manufacturing
• Chemical Refining
Medium Industry
Medium Industry involves the processing of minerals or other materials. Large equipment and facilities are characteristic for the refining and production of steel, polymers, and other products.
Sub-sectors
• Printing and publishing
• Fabricating metal products
• Rubber and plastic products
• Machinery, equipment, appliances
• Electrical machinery
• Transport equipment — motor vehicles, trailers, parts
Light Industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy or medium industry, and is more consumer-oriented, produced for end users rather than other industries. It uses moderate amounts of partially processed materials to produce items of relatively high value per unit of weight. Light industries require only a small amount of raw materials, space and power. The value of the goods is relatively low, and therefore easier to transport. The number of potential products is high: clothes, shoes, furniture, consumer electronics and home appliances. The light industry area is conveniently located near residential zones.
Sub-sectors
• Wood products
• Food, beverages, tobacco
• Textiles, apparel, leather goods
• Furniture, jewelry, toys
SEAPORT AND DRYDOCK
This is where the Duqm story begins — a deep-water port abutting strategic East-West and North-South shipping lanes crisscrossing the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean beyond. By far the most important cornerstone of the Special Economic Zone, the Port of Duqm with its giant breakwater arms, serves as the gateway to the industrial hub and its sprawling hinterland. Drafts of 18 metres alongside commercial berths and 19 metres along the approach channel allow for the largest maritime vessels to call at the seaport.
Nestled within Duqm Port is one of the world’s most modern ship-maintenance and repair yards, ranking among the largest in the Middle East and North Africa. Its location on the southeastern seaboard of Oman, within proximity to regional and international maritime trade routes, is a distinct advantage. So are its twin graving yards, each large enough to dry-dock some of the largest vessels currently in operation, including crude carriers of up to 600,000 DWT capacity. An additional 2.8km of quays allow for the wet-berthing of as many as 10 ships for simultaneous repairs.
FISHERIES
Capitalising on the abundant sea-food resources of the Arabian Sea, efforts are made to exploit the lucrative comparative advantage of Duqm’s traditional affinity for fishing and associated activities. The Zone will include the Fisheries Industrial Complex of approximately 7.5 sq. km. and a fishing harbor with a total water area of 6.2 sq. km.
The Zone is designed to provide:
• An international-standards quality-assurance center for fresh and processed fish exports.
• A marine research center, and training facility.
• Fish and shrimp farming for retail, wholesale and export markets.
LOGISTICS
Logistics areas (for storage, warehousing, showrooms, etc.) are advantageously located throughout the SEZ, whether close to the transport hubs, in the storage and warehouse zone in the Airport District and in the light-industry area next to the Duqm airport and within the Duqm Port or strategically located within reach of the medium and heavy industries.
TOURISM
Along the eastern edge of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm lies the Coastal District, one of its highest value-creation opportunities.
The district would include resort hotels, residential communities, cafes, family-oriented entertainment and leisure facilities. A sensitive development approach will preserve the coastline for future generations. With tens of thousands of people expected to make Duqm their home over the coming decades, developers are moving in to secure their share of what promises to be a sizable entertainment and leisure market. The SEZ Authority envisions investments across the gamut of options, including residential complexes, shopping malls, restaurant clusters and amusement hubs.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Since walkability and sustainability are at the core of the future Duqm City, educational and training facilities will be located in all residential neighbourhoods. The Civic District will, however, act as a center for larger-scale educational and civic services. In the heart of Duqm, connected to the major city highway and surrounded by desert parklands, the civic district is a hub not just for Duqm but for the surrounding region. This will be the home of regional, civic and support services. Its festival ground, major shopping centre, university, secondary schools, hospital, local government facilities and parklands will become the centerpiece, serving the surrounding communities of Al Wusta.
