The Indian group bid RO1.8m ($4.7m) to undertake the study into the redesign and expansion of the port, which is close to the UAE border.

The Transport & Communications Ministry wants to examine the possibility of building a fully-fledged commercial port at the site, expanding industrial and tourist facilities.

CES is competing against the UK’s WS Atkins, Singapore-based Jurong International Consultants, Hamza Associates from Egypt, and Lebanon’s Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) for the contract.

CES is also the low bidder for the contract to carry out a feasibility study for Oman’s Batinah railway (MEED 29:9:08).