Duqm: the new port city rising on Oman's Arabian Sea coast

Duqm, on the Arabian Sea coast of Al Wusta Governorate about 550 kilometres south of Muscat, is Oman's most ambitious development project. Fifteen years ago it was a small fishing village; today it is a special economic zone with a deep-water port, a major refinery and a growing town built from scratch.

The Special Economic Zone

The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) covers about 2,000 square kilometres and includes the port, an industrial area, a fishing harbour, logistics zones, tourism areas and a new town. It offers investors long land leases, customs and tax incentives and 100% foreign ownership. The zone is positioned on major shipping routes between Asia, the Gulf and East Africa, outside the Strait of Hormuz.

Port and refinery

• Port of Duqm: a deep-water port with container, dry-bulk and liquid terminals, plus a large dry dock for ship repair.
• Duqm Refinery: a joint venture between OQ and Kuwait Petroleum International, processing crude oil for export.
• Green energy: Duqm is a centre of Oman's green hydrogen plans, with large concession areas allocated to international consortia.

Tourism

Duqm's coastline is wild and empty. The Rock Garden, a field of strangely eroded limestone formations, is the town's best-known sight. Long beaches, flamingo lagoons and the deserts of Al Wusta lie nearby, and hotels including a Crowne Plaza and Park Inn serve business visitors and travellers.

Getting there

Duqm Airport has domestic flights to Muscat. By road it is a long drive of about six hours through the interior, or along the coast.

Living in Duqm

Duqm is still a frontier town. Housing, schools and services are growing but limited, and most expatriates are engineers and specialists on project contracts, often living in company housing. The climate is hot but tempered by sea breezes, and the summer khareef reaches part of the coast.

Property and investment

Investors can lease land in SEZAD for industrial, logistics, commercial and tourism projects on favourable terms; residential freehold for individuals is limited. For most private buyers, Duqm is an investment theme to watch rather than a place to buy a home today.

How R2LUX helps

Clients working on Duqm projects often want a permanent family base in Muscat with a short flight to the zone. Three current homes are below.