Oman has ramped up investment in road projects recently as part of an effort to upgrade its transport infrastructure, which lags behind its Gulf neighbours. Under the most recent five-year economic plan, which runs to 2015, a total of RO1.2bn ($3.2bn) has been allotted for road construction.

The largest project currently under way is the Batinah expressway scheme, which will extend the Muscat expressway up to the Oman-UAE border at Khatmat Malaha. The expressway is a particularly challenging road to build, due to the need to traverse the mountains between Muscat and the border.

Once complete, the new link is expected to play a key role in furthering Oman’s economic development.

The ministry is now tendering three further packages on the scheme.