Contracts for the construction of the passenger terminal at Al Duqm airport in Oman are likely to be tendered in December, according to a source close to the project.

The third phase of the airport development, which oversees the construction of the terminal, was put on hold in the first quarter of this year for undisclosed reasons.

Construction of the first and second phase of the project, which cover the provision of utilities, road access to the airport as well as the construction of the runway and installation of aircraft landing equipment, is expected to be completed before the end of the year, the source expects.

Oman-based Desert Line Projects won the construction tender for package 1 while China’s Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction won the contract for package 2.

ADPI is the project manager for two phases as well as the designer and project manager for the third phase.

The development of the airport forms part of a larger plan to turn the central eastern port town of Al Duqm into a major trade and transport hub, including establishing the country’s fourth largest sea port and building a major refinery and petrochemicals complex.