Agreement signed to establish mattress manufacturing facility in Sohar Freezone
This investment reinforces Sohar's role in driving industrial diversification and sets the foundation for clustering opportunities within the home and comfort manufacturing sector. The project also advances integration into global supply chains, with the potential to localize sourcing and strengthen regional value chains in the long term.
The factory will cover an area of 96,000 square meters, with a total investment of USD 70 million. It is designed to produce up to three million mattresses annually, with an initial export focus on the United States, followed by expansion into GCC markets, India, the European Union, and the local market in Oman. Raw materials will be sourced from China, Thailand, Japan, and Korea, enabling the company to manufacture high-quality sleep products for international markets from a single strategic base in Sohar.
Johnson Lim, General Manager of Sweet Night Fine Home's upcoming factory in Sohar Freezone commented, 'Our decision to invest in Sohar Freezone was driven by its unmatched location, efficiency, and long-term potential as a regional manufacturing hub. This investment marks a crucial step in our regional expansion, and Sohar Freezone provides the ideal environment to support our manufacturing ambitions.'
'We're proud to welcome Sweet Night Fine Home (FZC) LLC to Sohar Freezone as part of our expanding base of international manufacturers,' said Mohammed Al Shizawi, Acting CEO of Sohar Freezone. 'At Sohar, we focus on attracting investments that drive economic growth and introduce new industrial capabilities. This project underscores the strength of our integrated logistics ecosystem and supports our efforts to build a diversified, resilient industrial base aligned with Oman Vision 2040.'
The establishment of this manufacturing hub is expected to stimulate the local value chain by attracting complementary industries such as textiles, packaging, and logistics, thereby fostering the development of a specialised sleep-products ecosystem within the freezone. Sohar Freezone reaffirms its role as a catalyst for sustainable industrial development and a key player in global supply chain diversification.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
9 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Domestic investment up 53% in H1 2025; Institutional investment dropped 15%: Colliers
New Delhi: Despite a 15 per cent year-on-year decline, India's real estate sector attracted $3 billion in institutional investments in H1 2025, noted a recent report by Colliers. The report further mentions that the second quarter alone saw a robust USD 1.7 billion in inflows, up nearly 30 per cent from Q1, demonstrating resilience amid global economic headwinds. Notably, domestic investors played a crucial role, contributing USD 1.4 billion, a 53 per cent rise from H1 2024 and accounting for 48 per cent of the total inflows. This marks a sharp increase from just 16 per cent in 2021, reflecting an ongoing shift in the capital investment landscape, with Indian institutional investors playing a more prominent role in driving real estate activity across core asset classes. "As domestic capital deepens and diversifies, it is poised to bring greater stability and long-term confidence to India's maturing real estate ecosystem," said Badal Yagnik, Chief Executive Officer, Colliers India. While foreign investments fell 39 per cent YoY to USD 1.6 billion, they still made up 52 per cent of the total. Mixed-use and retail assets accounted for 55 per cent of these foreign inflows, indicating a shift in investor preference amid macroeconomic uncertainties. Among asset classes, residential real estate led with USD 0.8 billion, or 27 per cent of total investments in H1 2025, followed by office assets at 24 per cent. Mixed-use assets saw significant growth, jumping from 7 per cent in H1 2024 to over 20 per cent in H1 2025. Geographically, Mumbai and Bengaluru dominated, contributing 22 per cent and 17 per cent of H1 investments, respectively. Mumbai's performance was driven by office deals, while Bengaluru saw balanced investment across the office and residential sectors. A large retail transaction in Kolkata propelled the city to a 13 per cent share of H1 inflows. "The retail sector is also witnessing a steady revival, backed by rising consumption, rapid urbanisation, and evolving consumer lifestyle & spending patterns. With REITs and other institutional players actively scouting for quality retail assets across key markets, investment activity in this segment is expected to gain further traction in the coming quarters," said Vimal Nadar, National Director & Head of Research, Colliers India.
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
A Gateway to Sustainable Gulf Renaissance
In the corridors of Al Bustan Palace in Muscat, during the recent Oman-Saudi Knowledge Dialogue Forum, the gathering was not merely a stage for speeches or immature consumption of ideas; it was a laboratory for shaping the future. Around 70 Saudi universities joined forces with Omani higher education institutions, research centres, and innovation companies to forge a shared Gulf vision rooted in education and scientific research. This partnership is anchored in centuries-old ties of religion, language, and tradition, now extended by emerging geopolitical realities: Oman, gateway to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean; Saudi Arabia, the dominant land corridor and the Middle East's largest economy. The opening of the Empty Quarter border crossing reduced transport time between Al Duqm and Al Riyadh from days to mere hours, marking the birth of a commercial artery fuelling both nations' visions. The forum resembled a grand workshop for engineering the future, where political will aligned with academic enthusiasm. Oman Vision 2040 and Saudi Vision 2030 met on common ground: a shared belief that nations rise not from the depths of their oil fields, but from the cultivation of intellect. Investing in people yields returns that oil cannot during crises. This partnership draws strength from three key streams: cultural proximity rooted in shared religion and language; geopolitical synergy; and ambitious economic diversification focusing on hydrogen energy, AI, and advanced industries. These ambitions reflect in national plans, aiming for non-oil sectors to contribute 50 per cent of Saudi GDP and over 90 per cent of Oman's GDP by mid-century. This forward-looking vision naturally extends to education and research. The forum resulted in a concrete road map: launching extensive student and academic exchanges, joint research in renewable energy, biotechnology and AI, and establishing innovation hubs in Al Duqm and NEOM. However, realising a knowledge economy demands robust data infrastructure and legal frameworks. The two nations must adopt unified academic standards, enable seamless mobility of graduates and build a digital platform linking research to industry, ensuring that local innovation remains local. Education remains the cornerstone of national goals. Oman Vision 2040 includes raising university enrolment, updating curricula to stimulate creativity, and targeting top 20 rankings in global innovation indices by 2040. Similarly, Saudi Arabia is expanding its R&D infrastructure, increasing the number of universities and research centres and aiming to reduce graduate unemployment by 2030. The academic cooperation seen in the forum reflects urgent, mutual needs. The involvement of numerous Saudi and Omani universities opened the door to joint research, talent exchanges and innovation centres. Studies show that institutional twinning can double research output within a few years, translating into strong industrial and economic outcomes. The partnership should not remain confined to academia; there is potential for industrial collaboration, such as a tech-industrial corridor between Oman's Dhofar and Saudi Arabia's Jazan, focused on clean tech, food, and pharmaceuticals. To ensure implementation, a high-level coordination workshop is necessary, followed by a joint follow-up unit publishing semi-annual progress reports. A joint innovation fund should also be created, with proportional contributions from both sides to support projects for the first five years. Ideally, this bilateral project could scale to include other Arab countries. A proposal for an Arab Scientific Council, gathering ministers of education and research, could align regional priorities. Lessons from the EU show that successful coordination across diverse cultures and languages is possible with a centralised mechanism. The Oman-Saudi partnership is a seed to be nurtured by shared heritage, driven by strategic vision, and fertilised by digital knowledge tools. Let the Knowledge Dialogue Forum not be a mere display of ambitions but the first step in an active plan, of joint research networks, academic exchange, and innovation financing that values minds and shelters ideas. In this complex age, those who remain on the sidelines of knowledge are doomed to follow. Only those who lead the global scientific movement will shape history, not merely record it.
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
Oman, Bulgaria discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations
Sofia: The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Bulgaria today held a round of official talks in the city of Sofia, with the aim of enhancing bilateral relations. The Omani side was headed by Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, while the Bulgarian side was led by Rosen Dimitrov Zhelyazkov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria. The session dealt with various aspects of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and explored new vistas for developing partnerships in economic, cultural and scientific fields, with the prime objective of exchanging joint benefits and realizing common interests. During the talks, the two sides also exchanged views about regional and international issues of common concern. They expressed their keenness to foster diplomatic coordination, hold regular consultations and exchange visits to meet their shared goals and values that call for consolidating pillars of peace and security and achieving international justice, peaceful coexistence and prosperity among nations. The session was attended by Yousef Ahmed Al Jabri, the Sultanate of Oman's Non-resident Ambassador to Bulgaria, Munthir Mahfoudh Al Mandheri, Head of the Europe Department at the Foreign Ministry, and other officials from the two countries.
