Oman’s Transport & Communications Ministry (MOTC) has invited firms to bid by 10 January for the consultancy services contract for the construction of Sohar Industrial Estate Diamond Exchange.

Firms that intend to bid for the contract include:

• Al-Manarah Engineering Consultancy (local)
• Eamar Engineering Consultancy (local)
• Ibn Khaldoun Almadaen Engineering Consultants (local)
• Nespak and Partners (local)

The construction work to be supervised by the selected consultant includes four slip roads under the bridge at Sohar industrial area along Batinah Expressway and two dual, two-lane link roads. The main work will include the construction of two roundabouts.

In addition to improving road connectivity to its industrial areas, Oman has undertaken major road construction works to improve connectivity to other GCC states.

The road linking Oman and Saudi Arabia through Rub al-Khali (the Empty Quarter) recently opened.

The road is expected to foster greater integration between the two economies, particularly in terms of trade. The new route halves the current land route (1,600km) between the two countries and is expected to benefit logistics and distribution companies by reducing the time and cost of transporting cargo from Oman to Riyadh.

Bids are also under evaluation for the seventh package of the Batinah Expressway, which links Muscat with the UAE. The 265km expressway scheme provides an alternative to the existing congested Batinah Highway.