OPAZ
Invites Bids for Phase 1 of Surface Water Drainage project in Al Rawdah SEZ

Muscat,
2 Jul (ONA) — The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones
(OPAZ) announced the launch of a tender for the construction works of surface
water drainage channels in the Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone, located in the
Wilayat of Mahdah in Al Buraimi Governorate.

OPAZ
has invited specialised companies to purchase tender documents and submit bids
via the e-tendering platform ‘Etimad’. The tender coincides with the Ministry
of Finance’s signing of a financing agreement with the Arab Fund for Economic
and Social Development (AFESD) to fund the first phase of the surface water
drainage project in Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone.

Eng.
Yahya Khamis Al Zadjali, planning adviser to the Chairman of OPAZ, stated that
the project aims to provide essential protection for the zone, including
safeguarding tourism, industrial, commercial, and agricultural facilities. The
project will implement an integrated network of open channels and effective
water barriers to control the flow of surface water resulting from rainfall
across the lands designated for the SEZ.

He
added that the tender includes the construction of an 850-metre barrier, a 25
km rainwater drainage channel, and associated excavation, backfilling, grading,
and other works necessary to support the zone’s economic and social goals. The
drainage network is designed to withstand exceptional weather conditions.

Strategically
located in the Wilayat of Mahdah in Al Buraimi Governorate, Al Rawdah SEZ
serves as a key logistics gateway between the Sultanate of Oman and the United
Arab Emirates. The zone is connected to Sohar Port and Jebel Ali Port, enabling
logistics providers, manufacturers, and commercial businesses to access GCC,
Asian and African markets efficiently and cost-effectively.

In
May, OPAZ signed an agreement with Mahdah Development Company to develop and
operate the first phase of the SEZ over an area of 14 square kilometers. The
total planned area of the zone is approximately 56.8 square kilometers. The
first phase focuses on attracting investment in a range of sectors, including
manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, pharmaceuticals, plastics, mining, food
industries, and safety and security services.

Through
the development of Al Rawdah SEZ, OPAZ aims to capitalise on the comparative
and competitive advantages of Oman’s various governorates, thereby contributing
to economic and social development, creating employment opportunities for Omani
youth, and stimulating key economic sectors.

The
establishment of the SEZ aligns with the Authority’s broader strategy to
support Oman Vision 2040, particularly in the areas of economic
diversification, fiscal sustainability, labour market development, private
sector growth, foreign investment, international cooperation, and sustainable
urban and regional development.

—Ends/AG