MUSCAT – OPAZ has invited specialised companies to purchase tender documents and submit bids via the e-tendering platform ‘Etimad’. The tender coincides with the Ministry of Finance’s signing of a financing agreement with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) to fund the first phase of the surface water drainage project in Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone.

Eng. Yahya Khamis Al Zadjali, planning advisor to the Chairman of OPAZ, stated that the project aims to provide essential protection for the zone, including safeguarding tourism, industrial, commercial, and agricultural facilities. The project will implement an integrated network of open channels and effective water barriers to control the flow of surface water resulting from rainfall across the lands designated for the SEZ.

He added that the tender includes the construction of an 850-meter barrier, a 25 km rainwater drainage channel, and associated excavation, backfilling, grading, and other works necessary to support the zone’s economic and social goals. The drainage network is designed to withstand exceptional weather conditions.

Strategically located in the Wilayat of Mahdah in Al Buraimi Governorate, Al Rawdah SEZ serves as a key logistics gateway between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The zone is connected to Sohar Port and Jebel Ali Port, enabling logistics providers, manufacturers, and commercial businesses to access GCC, Asian and African markets efficiently and cost-effectively.

In May, OPAZ signed an agreement with Mahdah Development Company to develop and operate the first phase of the SEZ over an area of 14 square kilometers. The total planned area of the zone is approximately 56.8 square kilometers. The first phase focuses on attracting investment in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, pharmaceuticals, plastics, mining, food industries, and safety and security services.

Through the development of Al Rawdah SEZ, OPAZ aims to capitalize on the comparative and competitive advantages of Oman’s various governorates, thereby contributing to economic and social development, creating employment opportunities for Omani youth, and stimulating key economic sectors.
The establishment of the SEZ aligns with the Authority’s broader strategy to support Oman Vision 2040, particularly in the areas of economic diversification, sustainability, labor market development, private sector growth, foreign investment, international cooperation, and sustainable urban and regional development.