Sultanate of Oman’s oldest free zone attracts 248 projects to date

Al Mazunah Free Zone, the Sultanate of Oman’s first free zone, has attracted 248 projects to date, cementing its importance as a hub for trade and investment, Engineer Ali bin Salem al Maashani (pictured), General Manager of Al Mazunah Free Zone, said. During the third quarter of 2022, Al Mazunah Free Zone received 13 investment applications in the industrial, commercial, and service sectors.

Al Maashani said that movement of goods and vehicles exported through the zone during the first half of this year recorded a remarkable growth. A total of 4,508 vehicles worth more than RO 16 million were exported during this period, while the volume of handled totalled 218,880 tonnes, with a value of more than RO 215 million.

The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn) currently implements infrastructure projects in the zone, including a security system project, which is now 90 per cent complete. The project consists of a security fence equipped with high-resolution surveillance cameras and lighting. A water desalination plant will also be built to supply clean water to the zone.

Furthermore, Al Maashani confirmed that the first three phases to develop the Al Mazunah Free Zone have been completed, which comprises of a sewage networks, water networks, asphalted internal roads, septic tank, an optical fibre communications network and other development services.

To support investment inflows into the zone, Shumookh Investment and Services Company — an affiliate of Madayn — constructed a multiuse facility and service building project at a cost of RO 3 million, covering an area of over 11,000 square metres. It will house a variety of facilities, commercial and service offices in one building.

Among its many accomplishments, Al Mazunah Free Zone has attracted a strategic investor and is currently overseeing the development of a 3 million square metre site that is divided into investment-ready plots.

Besides offering import and export services, the free zone also features commercial premises, retail shops, warehouses business, automotive showrooms, customs clearing offices, haulage, hotels, grocery outlets, and manufacturing facilities specialising in the production of plastics, culinary utensils, decorations, and cosmetics, among other items.

Al Mazunah Free Zone, maintained and operated by Madayn, is an important gateway for transit commerce to Yemen and, from there, to East African countries.