Oman Invites Indian Investment in Sohar Port to Bypass Strait of Hormuz for Energy Access

Key facts

• On September 16, 2026, in New Delhi, Sohar Port and Freezone CEO Raid Al Rubaiey invited Indian investments, describing India as an important and growing part of Sohar's investment landscape.
• Sohar Port, located on Oman's Gulf of Oman coast away from the conflict-affected Strait of Hormuz, has received over $30 billion in investments and can handle 72 million tonnes of cargo annually.
• The two-day promotional event was organised by the Embassy of Oman, with Ambassador Issa Saleh Al Shibani introducing the port and Freezone to Indian businesses.
• Compared with Oman's earlier offers of Duqm and Salalah ports, Sohar is closer to vital energy pipelines of the UAE and eastern Saudi Arabia.
• Sohar Port and Freezone, developed by the ASYAD Group and the Port of Rotterdam, offer logistics, petrochemicals, metals services and the Gulf region's first agribulk terminal.
• Sohar Port's importance is expected to grow as the Oman-UAE rail connects the port to the UAE's network, and Saudi Arabia is offering more crude loadings via ship-to-ship transfer off Sohar after drone attacks damaged its Red Sea pipeline.