DUQM AND SALALAH: OMAN’S PORTS AND SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

The development of seaport infrastructure in Oman during the fifty-year reign of Sultan Qaboos was a result of his government’s vision and strategic planning. Seaport development reflects Oman’s engagement with broader international trends such as globalization. Local and geopolitical forces both within the jurisdiction of Oman, as well as beyond the Sultan’s scope of influence, have shaped seaport initiatives. Exemplifying this are the Omani port cities of Duqm and Salalah, with their associated Duqm Special Economic and Salalah Free Zones. These two seaports represent Oman’s increasing engagement with global trade through the reign of Sultan Qaboos 1970–2020. Salalah, the