Updates on rail, aviation, trade, investments, and customs from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman

INVESTMENT WATCH-

Oman inked over 18 agreements worth OMR 100 mn to boost its logistics sector, covering aviation, trucking, and storage and warehousing, according to a statement. The agreements were signed on the margins of Oman’s Logistics Day 2025.

Warehouse agreements: Oman Airports signed an agreement with Gulf Wealth International to establish an e-commerce warehouse for drones and spare parts. The hub is part of a 21.6k sqm R&D center that will include a 3D printing manufacturing unit. Oman Airports also inked an agreement with One Worldwide Properties to establish a 40k sqm bonded warehouse at Muscat International Airport for the storage of a diverse range of products.

Trucking agreement: Oman logistics solutions provider and dry ports operator Al Madina Logistics inked an agreement with Global Integrated Equipment to invest in the expansion of the energy sector’s truck fleet. The agreement includes a service station in Duqm with fuel-efficient and safety-compliant tractors and trailers for Petroleum Development Oman.

Trade-focused agreement: Al Madina Logistics, Lone Star Alpha Laboratories, and Al Alamiya Laboratories and Inspections have partnered up to expand the Sohar Logistics hub’s private labs that provide testing for imported and exported products including agricultural, animal, fishery, and food products.

ICYMI- There’s more: Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone have inked contracts with three international firms to start the construction phase of the Marsa LNG project. The USD 1.6 bn project — the first LNG-dedicated bunkering hub in the Middle East — will produce 1 mn metric tons of LNG annually and will be entirely powered by a 300 MW solar plant.

RAIL-

Etihad Rail inked two respective MoUs with South Sudan and Chad’s individual Transport Ministries, according to a statement released on Saturday. Etihad Rail met with representatives from Kenya, Chad, South Sudan, Uganda, and Cameroon in a bid to boost the UAE’s long-term strategic relationships with African countries in the fields of transport, infrastructure, logistics, and railways.

A closer look: Under the MoUs, the UAE aims to ramp up its frameworks of cooperation between the two countries in terms of infrastructure projects, the railway sector, and knowledge exchange. The agreements also include a feasibility study for shared development of railway, logistics, and infrastructure projects in the three countries.

TRADE-

An export-oriented factory for blood bags in the works for Egypt: The Egyptian Companyfor Medical Investments and Interpharm — the local unit of Japanese medical device manufacturer JMS — will set up an EGP 1.4 bn factory for blood collection bags and tubes in Ain Sokhna’s industrial zone, according to a cabinet statement released last week. The factory aims to meet local demand for blood bags while exporting to neighboring markets in the MENA region, with production targets of 7 mn blood bags by the seventh year — 3 mn earmarked for domestic use and 4 mn for export.

CUSTOMS-

Saudi expedites its customs approval process: The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (Zatca) is mandating Saudi importers to submit a customs declaration in advance for goods set to be received through the Kingdom’s maritime ports — effective from 29 October, according to a statement released on Friday. The new policy — which aims to grant pre-approval procedures for goods before they arrive at Saudi ports — is in line with the Kingdom’s plans to clear goods within two hours from arrival at its ports.

AVIATION-

Riyadh Air signed 11 agreements with travel and tech companies during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Al Arabiya reported on Thursday. The agreements focus on technology integration to cover sales, distribution, and digital loyalty tools, aiming to ease operations and booking with Riyadh Air across more than 125 countries.

New partners include Amadeus, Air Retailer, dnata, Sabre, TP Connects, Verteil Technologies, and Loyalty Juggernaut.