Oman Air and UK-based Menzies Aviation have agreed to form a joint venture to provide ground-handling services at airports in Oman.

The companies say they are now entering a period of due diligence in order to meet all regulatory requirements prior to the formation of the joint venture before the end of 2016.

The new entity is envisaged to employ 2,500 people and handle more than 50,000 aircraft turnarounds annually.

Oman has two international airports, one located in the capital Muscat and the other in Salalah, as well as several domestic airports.

The partnership, according to Oman Air CEO Paul Gregorowitsch, will "provide Oman Air access to new technologies, improve training and achieve the highest standards with regard to ground-handling services".

“This venture represents real progress against our strategy by… expanding in[to] emerging markets,” said Menzies Aviation's president Forsyth Black. ”There is a great tradition of cooperation between British and Omani partners; we hope to add this new joint venture to that list.”

Menzies Aviation currently operates 146 airports across 31 countries, with an annual turnover of more than £700m ($1bn).

In April, Oman Air announced the formation of a joint venture with Singapore Airport Terminal Services (Sats) subsidiary Sats Investments to handle cargo at Muscat International airport.

Oman Airports Management Company, which operates and manages the sultanate’s international airports, has also recently launched a plan to develop real estate schemes around these airports, in a bid to support the government’s economic diversification strategy.