EARNINGS WATCH-

Oman's Salalah Port’s net income rose 120% y-o-y to OMR 4.7 mn in 9M 2025, according to a disclosure (pdf) published last week. Its topline rose 25% y-o-y — reaching OMR 67.5 mn for the same period.

In cargo terms: Containers handled by the port rose 26% to some 3.2 mn TEUs in 9M 2025, which management attributed to upgrades in its container terminal and higher dry bulk and bagged cargo figures. General cargo traffic rose 17% to around 20 mn metric tons.

Salalah’s terminal expansion is paying off: Salalah Port expanded its container handling capacity last year from 5 mn TEUs to 6 mn TEUs annually by purchasing 10 new high-capacity ZPC ship-to-shore cranes at an investment ticket of USD 300 mn. Expansion plans at the port included upgrading the current four berths to support the new cranes and an additional two berths under construction were scheduled for operation in 1Q 2025.

TRADE-

Abu Dhabi Customs inked two trade facilitation agreements in London, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi-London Business Connect Forum and the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum, according to statements here and here. The agreements were signed with European consultancies Maersk Global Trade & Customs Consulting and UK-based Competere Group, and aim to advance digital customs systems, border management, and trade facilitation.

The details: The agreement with Maersk focuses on developing next-generation customs modernization tools, including a trusted digital trade corridor and a compliance framework for brokers. The Competere partnership centers on data-driven economic models and advanced technology to streamline customs operations and improve Abu Dhabi’s trade competitiveness.

CARGO-

Gulftainer launches landbridge operation in Khorfakkan: Sharjah-based Gulftainer has introduced a new logistics solution, Landbridge, in Khorfakkan Commercial Terminal (KCT) — slated to streamline the movement of cargo between the UAE and the wider GCC, specifically Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, according to a statement released on Friday. The landbridge offers greater connectivity to domestic and regional markets — boasting a fleet of over 300 trailers and round-the-clock operations. Under the new solution, customers will be able to accelerate the movement of cargo due to increased visibility and control with real-time tracking.

SOUND SMART- A landbridge is an intermodal transportation method that involves the movement of cargo via a combination of land, rail, and maritime corridors domestically, internationally, or across continents.

Saudi has one in the works: A USD 7 bn landbridge project is slated for completion by 2030 in Saudi Arabia. The landbridge will connect the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast to the Arabian Gulf and includes the development of six railway lines and seven logistics centers.

AVIATION-

Flagship carrier Saudia operated its first direct passenger flight from Riyadh to Moscow on Friday, in partnership with the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Air Connectivity Program, it said on X on Friday. The airline announced in June it will launch three weekly round-trip flights to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport starting in October.

MEANWHILE- Flynas is set to launch a Jeddah-Moscow route starting on 23 December, running three-weekly flights between Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport and Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport, it said on LinkedIn. The low-cost carrier flynas began three weekly flights between Riyadh to the Russian capital in August.

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