UN/LOCODE: OMSOH📍 Oman
Port of Sohar (UN/LOCODE OMSOH)
❖ Coordinates: 24.3461°N, 56.7075°E
❖ Time Zone: Asia/Muscat
❖ UN/LOCODE: OMSOH
## About the Port
Sohar Port (UN/LOCODE: **OMSOH**) sits on the Gulf of Oman, 24.3460959 ° N, 56.7075141 ° E, within the Al Batinah North Governorate of the Sultanate of Oman. Operated by the public‑private partnership **Mina Al‑Mina Group**, the harbor serves as a strategic gateway between the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf. The facility functions 24 hours a day, aligning with the **Asia/Muscat** time zone (UTC + 4), and benefits from a deep‑water approach that accommodates vessels up to 250 m LOA and a draft of 16 m.
Because of its proximity to the **Bab Al‑Mandab** strait, Sohar is positioned on one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, facilitating trans‑shipment for containerized, bulk, and project cargoes destined for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, South‑Asia, and beyond. Its location also offers a natural defensive advantage – an inlet protected from the open sea by a series of limestone headlands, which reduces exposure to extreme swell and eases berthing operations during the Southwest Monsoon season.
## History
The origins of Sohar trace back to the **pre‑Islamic trading hub** mentioned in ancient Sumerian texts, where it functioned as a conduit for frankincense, copper, and date‑palm products. The modern port, however, was conceived in the early 1970s as part of Oman’s diversification drive under Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Saud. Initial construction focused on a modest break‑water and a single general cargo berth, primarily serving regional dhow traffic.
In the 1990s, the Omani government embarked on an ambitious expansion, partnering with foreign investors to create a **free‑zone industrial complex** adjacent to the port. The establishment of the **Sohar Freezone** in 1996 accelerated the construction of deep‑draft berths, container yards, and dedicated oil terminals. By 2005, Sohar had evolved into a multi‑modal hub, integrating rail links to the interior, highway connections to the national road network, and an air cargo terminal at nearby **Sohar International Airport**.
The 2010s witnessed further capacity upgrades, including the addition of a **Roll‑On/Roll‑Off (RoRo) terminal** and a state‑of‑the‑art **dry‑bulk terminal** equipped with ship‑unloaders capable of handling 5 000 t/h. These investments were driven by Oman’s **Vision 2020** and later **Vision 2040** economic plans, which identified Sohar as a pillar for industrial diversification, petro‑chemical processing, and logistics services.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
| Facility | Capacity | Key Features |
|----------|----------|--------------|
| **Container Terminal** | 2 000 TEU berths (expandable to 4 000) | Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry cranes, on‑dock rail (Omani National Railway) |
| **General Cargo & Project Cargo** | 12 000 m² quay length | Heavy‑lift cranes (up to 120 t), modular warehouses, offshore support services |
| **Dry‑Bulk Terminal** | 8 000 t/h ship‑unloader | Dust‑suppression system, grain elevators, ore silos |
| **Liquid‑Bulk & Petro‑Chemical Terminals** | 1 600 km² storage area | Dedicated LPG, naphtha, and refined product tanks with double‑walled containment |
| **RoRo & Automobile Terminal** | 150 m berth, 6 000 vpp (vehicles per day) | Multi‑level parking decks, customs pre‑clearance facilities |
| **Free‑Zone Logistics Park** | 5 km² | Pre‑fabricated steel structures, customs‑bonded warehousing, value‑added services |
The port’s **navigation aids** include an offshore lighthouse (E‑112), Differential GPS (DGPS) stations, and a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) center staffed 24/7. The **electrified rail link** (standard gauge) connects Sohar to the inland industrial estates of **Al‑Daqah** and **Al‑Masna**, supporting the movement of over 5 million t of freight annually. Adjacent to the maritime precinct, the **Sohar Freezone** offers fiscal incentives, streamlined customs procedures, and a one‑stop service platform that aligns with the World Bank’s **Ease of Doing Business** metrics.
## Economic Importance
Sohar Port is a linchpin of Oman’s non‑oil economy. In 2023, the port handled **≈ 30 million metric tons** of cargo, generating an estimated **US $5.4 billion** in direct revenues and supporting upwards of **45 000 jobs** across logistics, manufacturing, and ancillary services. The free‑zone component contributes an additional **US $2 billion** in industrial output, driven largely by petro‑chemical processing, aluminum smelting, and vehicle assembly.
The port’s **strategic location** enables it to capture a share of the Red‑Sea‑to‑India corridor, reducing transit times for Asian exporters compared with the Persian Gulf route. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Sohar ranks within the top 15 global trans‑shipment hubs for **container throughput** in the Middle East, underscoring its role as a logistics nexus for **China‑Middle East‑Europe (CM_E) trade lanes**.
Sohar’s impact extends to **energy security** as well. The adjacent **Sohar Refinery**, operated by **Oman Oil Company**, processes 120 000 b/d of crude, feeding downstream petrochemical complexes and supplying domestic markets. The **LPG and naphtha terminals** serve as critical fuel depots for the GCC, especially during peak summer demand.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
Sohar’s cargo mix is diversified:
| Cargo Type | Approx. Share (2023) | Primary Origin/Destination |
|------------|----------------------|-----------------------------|
| **Containers** (TEU) | 35 % | Asia (China, India, Korea) ↔ Europe (Netherlands, UK) |
| **Dry Bulk** (Grain, Fertilizer) | 25 % | West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana) ↔ GCC (Oman, Saudi Arabia) |
| **Liquids** (Oil, LPG, Naphtha) | 20 % | Middle East ↔ South‑Asia |
| **Project Cargo** (Machinery, Steel) | 10 % | Europe ↔ GCC industrial zones |
| **RoRo Vehicles** | 5 % | Japan, Europe ↔ GCC automotive market |
| **General Cargo** | 5 % | Regional intra‑GCC trade |
Key **maritime corridors** intersecting Sohar:
* **India‑Gulf Route** – vessels traveling between the Indian subcontinent and the GCC use Sohar as a preferred off‑load point to access inland Omani markets via rail and road.
* **East‑Africa‑Middle‑East Loop** – container ships transiting the **Bab Al‑Mandab** often stop at Sohar to off‑load cargo bound for the **Arabian Peninsula** or to pick up African exports such as coffee and tea.
* **China‑Europe Belt‑Maritime** – the **New Silk Road** sea component routinely includes Sohar in its itinerary, leveraging the port’s deep draft and container handling capacity to bridge the Suez and the Arabian Sea.
The port’s **customs efficiency** is bolstered by the **Integrated Port Community System (IPCS)**, which enables electronic data interchange (EDI) for manifest submissions, cargo clearance, and real‑time tracking. This digital backbone reduces average dwell time to **≈ 24 hours** for containerized shipments, a competitive advantage highlighted in the **World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index**.
---
**References**
* UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2023 – Regional Port Rankings↗
* Mina Al‑Mina Group – Official Port Infrastructure Overview↗
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
OMSOH
Country
Oman
Province / Region
Al Batinah North Governorate
Latitude
24.346096
Longitude
56.707514
Timezone
Asia/Muscat
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
Loading Map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Sohar?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Sohar is OMSOH.
Where is Port of Sohar located?
The Port of Sohar is located in Oman, Al Batinah North Governorate. Its coordinates are 24.3461°N, 56.7075°E.
What time zone is Port of Sohar in?
Port of Sohar operates in the Asia/Muscat time zone.
Scanning Local Infrastructure...
About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
📍 Nearby Ports
Other maritime facilities geographically close to Sohar.
Al Fujayrah
United Arab Emirates • 94 km awayKhor al Fakkan
United Arab Emirates • 115 km awayAjman
United Arab Emirates • 168 km awaySharjah
United Arab Emirates • 174 km away