Oman’s top five ports saw in 2023 a 1.5 percent annual increase in cargo handling, surpassing 93.2 million tons. This underscores the growing significance of these ports in maritime trade.
The terminals of Sultan Qaboos, Salalah, Sohar, Khasab, Shinas, and A’Suwaiq handled approximately 91.8 million tons of general, liquid, and bulk cargo in 2022, according to the Oman News Agency (ONA).
The news agency also highlighted a 4.3 percent rise in the number of berthed ships in 2023, reaching approximately 11,005 vessels compared to 10,553 in 2022.
Additionally, cruise ship passenger numbers at the Sultan Qaboos, Salalah, and Khasab Ports increased considerably in 2023. This achievement reflects the government’s collaborative efforts with tourism partners to enhance hospitality traffic to Oman. In 2023, 229 cruise ships brought 599,000 passengers to Omani terminals, compared to around 87 ocean liners carrying over 205,000 travelers in 2022 – an increase of over 190 percent.
According to economic experts and specialists, Oman’s improved credit rating, rising from “BB” with a positive outlook in March 2023 to “BB+” with a positive outlook in March 2024, underscores the government’s commitment to optimizing spending, increasing state revenues, and persistently reducing public debts, particularly those with high costs. This, in turn, aids in accelerating the country’s economic diversification strategy and achieving the goals of Vision 2040.