Objectives

• Enhance food security by facilitating the sustainable and regular transport of essential supplies.
• Reduce transportation costs compared to traditional road transport (trucks).
• Improve supply chain efficiency between Salalah (as a logistics hub and international port) and Thumrait (an inland commercial center).
• Promote environmental sustainability by reducing emissions from the truck fleet.
• Contribute to Oman Vision 2040 by transforming the Sultanate into a global logistics hub.

Project Components

• Construction of a railway line approximately 150–170 km long between Salalah and Thumrait.
• Main stations:
• Salalah Station near the port and food storage facilities.
• Thumrait Station serving as a distribution hub for surrounding regions.
• Trains dedicated to food transport equipped with refrigerated and dry containers.
• Smart storage facilities linked to the railway to ensure supply and distribution.
• Digital supply chain management system (tracking, monitoring, inventory management).

Economic and Social Benefits

• Reduce transportation costs by 20–30%.
• Lower reliance on trucks, easing road congestion and reducing traffic accidents.
• Ensure stable food supplies, particularly during emergencies or high demand periods.
• Create job opportunities in construction, operations, and maintenance.
• Attract additional logistics investments and integrate the project with Salalah port and free zones.

Environmental Impact

• Significantly reduce carbon emissions.
• Decrease fossil fuel consumption.
• Minimize pollution caused by heavy truck traffic on roads.

Proposed Timeline

• 2025: Conduct economic, technical, and environmental feasibility studies.
• 2026: Launch the project for investment (Public-Private Partnership – PPP).
• 2027–2030: Construct and implement the railway line.
• 2031: Trial operations.
• 2032: Full commercial operations.

 Funding and Partnerships

• Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
• Contributions from Oman Future Fund and logistics investment funds.
• Potential for direct foreign investment due to Salalah’s connection to international trade routes.
• Collaboration with major food companies to secure long-term transport contracts.

 Added Value

• The project can serve as a foundation for a future southern railway network connecting Salalah to central and northern Oman.
• Strengthens Oman’s position as a strategic logistics hub between the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Peninsula.