The Middle East Transport

New investments by maritime services firms based in the port of Duqm could help Oman boost its credentials as a shipping and trade centre, parlaying its position close to major trade routes into profits, though it will have to contend with established rivals in and around the Gulf.

A multi-billion-dollar redevelopment plan for Abu Dhabi International Airport (ADIA) is expected to help the facility handle a rising number of passengers as well as assist the emirate in establishing a position as a regional aviation hub.

With a flurry of new infrastructure projects, the government is selling Bahrain’s regional connectivity as a key attraction for foreign investors. While the island Kingdom may not compete for east-west traffic with global transit centres like Dubai, Doha and Istanbul, Bahrain is carving out a role as a gateway to the GCC markets.

Turkey is planning to polish its credentials as an international transportation hub by building one of the world’s largest airports in Istanbul, a facility that is intended to serve the growing travel market and also cater to transit traffic, though it will face stiff competition from established airports in the Middle East and Europe.

The emirate’s aviation authorities have floated a proposal to expand what is already one of the busiest airports in the world, looking to double the planned capacity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) as part of what could be a major shift in government policy.

The emirate’s external trade figures hit record levels in 2012, assisted by its strong transport and logistics infrastructure and underpinned by areas of the economy that remain in recovery mode. Attention is now turning to widening the scope of trading partners to further strengthen this important sector.