Latest news with #RubAlKhali
Zawya
22-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: EZAD, anchoring investments for a diversified future
Oman's economic landscape is undergoing a profound transformation guided by Vision 2040, the Sultanate of Oman's strategic roadmap towards a diversified, knowledge-driven economy. Central to this vision is the Al Dhahirah Economic Zone (EZAD), a flagship initiative that reflects Oman's commitment to redefining its economic narrative and deepening regional integration within the GCC. EZAD is more than just an economic zone; it is a symbol of visionary policy, geographic advantage, and sustainable development. Situated in the Al Dhahirah Governorate, just 20 kilometers from the Rub Al Khali border crossing with Saudi Arabia, EZAD strategically positions Oman as a gateway to the $1.6 trillion GCC market. This proximity enables seamless overland trade, substantially reducing transportation costs and delivery times for businesses accessing the Saudi market and beyond. The newly established direct Oman-Saudi road has already driven a remarkable 350% increase in bilateral trade between 2022 and 2024, reaching nearly RO 2.18 billion. This momentum underscores the immense potential EZAD holds in enhancing trade flows and industrial collaboration across borders. The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) plays a pivotal role in steering the development of EZAD. The zone encompasses a total area of 388 km², with OPAZ currently focused on Phase 1A, which spans 7.5 km² as part of the initial urgent development stage. This phase includes essential facilities such as the dry port and a dedicated veterinary quarantine centre. Through a robust regulatory framework and a streamlined 'one-stop shop' service, OPAZ ensures a highly investor-friendly environment. Investors benefit from a suite of competitive incentives including 100% foreign ownership, tax holidays of up to 30 years, duty exemptions on equipment and raw materials, and full repatriation of profits. These advantages firmly position EZAD as a leading investment destination within the Middle East. Aligned with Oman's economic diversification objectives, EZAD is purposefully designed to cultivate sectors beyond hydrocarbons. Key industries targeted include clean and renewable energy, high-precision manufacturing, logistics, and advanced manufacturing that demand sophisticated infrastructure and specialised facilities. EZAD is poised to emerge as a regional logistics hub, featuring a 4 km² dry port managed by Asyad Group on behalf of the Omani government. The first phase of the dry port development covers 1 km² and will include customs facilities, bonded warehouses, and container handling infrastructure. Smart city innovations, such as solar-powered lighting and intelligent traffic management systems, underline the zone's commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency. To support this expansive vision, RO 122 million has been secured for comprehensive infrastructure development, encompassing roads, drainage systems, and connectivity enhancements. Specifically, RO 22.3 million has been allocated for Phase 1, ensuring the foundational infrastructure is in place to catalyse growth and investor confidence. The zone's commitment to empowering local businesses is clear. Contracts stipulate significant subcontracting opportunities for Omani SMEs, with over RO 10 million earmarked for local enterprises. This strategy not only fosters job creation and skill development but also embeds SMEs into regional supply chains, contributing to Oman's broader economic objectives. EZAD exemplifies Oman-Saudi collaboration. A joint executive committee oversees the zone's development, fostering mutual investments, regulatory alignment, and business facilitation. Discussions on establishing a joint Saudi-Omani operating company further solidify this bilateral partnership, reducing investor risks and enhancing regional cooperation. While the zone's primary focus is regional, it actively seeks investments from Asia—particularly China and India—as well as Europe. Oman's stable investment climate, strategic logistics positioning, and connectivity to Gulf and African markets present compelling advantages for international investors. The zone is an ideal base for distribution centres, cold storage facilities, and third-party logistics operations. Diverse investment opportunities await both local and international players. Agro-processing units can leverage Al Dhahirah's agricultural potential, while the veterinary quarantine centre opens pathways in livestock trade. Mining and mineral processing offer prospects to capitalise on Oman's rich natural resources. Financial institutions like Sohar International Bank stand ready to support these ventures through joint ventures and PPP models. To maximise EZAD's potential, strategic enhancements are essential. Improving customs protocols with Saudi Arabia, adopting single-window systems, and integrating digital documentation will streamline cross-border trade. Utility infrastructure, including reliable energy, water, and telecommunications, must be fortified to support industrial activity. OPAZ has also tendered projects for an administrative and commercial complex featuring a hotel, clinic, administration building, business centre and mall. Promotion of EZAD should leverage its unique Oman-Saudi identity. Establishing an annual Al Dhahirah Economic Forum could serve as a dynamic platform to showcase investment opportunities. Additionally, academic and vocational training partnerships will be pivotal in cultivating a skilled workforce tailored to the zone's specialised industries. Facilitating technology transfers and fostering innovation clusters will further elevate EZAD's global competitiveness. In conclusion, the Al Dhahirah Economic Zone stands as a strategic nexus for Oman's economic diversification, regional integration, and global engagement. Its strategic location, investor-friendly policies, comprehensive infrastructure, and deep-rooted Oman-Saudi collaboration make it a beacon of sustainable growth and investment. As Oman advances toward its Vision 2040 goals, EZAD is poised to play a transformative role in shaping a resilient, diversified, and globally competitive economy. Its success will not only benefit Oman but also serve as a testament to the power of visionary leadership, collaborative governance, and shared prosperity.
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia plants 50mln seedlings in Rub' al Khali
RIYADH — The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, in collaboration with Aramco, successfully sowed approximately 50 million seeds of native plant species — Arta, Arfaj, Dhamran, and Ramth — across three targeted sites in the Rub' al Khali Desert, as well as two additional sites in Haradh and Yabrin, in eastern Saudi Arabia. This announced initiative aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, reflecting Saudi Arabia's commitment to achieving global climate goals and unifying efforts to combat climate change. The step, approved by Saudi Arabia, further amplifies the greening efforts already undertaken to build a more sustainable future. Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has taken remarkable steps toward building a more sustainable future. Since its inception in 2021, the Saudi Green Initiative has continued to advance environmental protection efforts, accelerate the energy transition, and implement sustainability programs aimed at achieving its comprehensive goals — including offsetting and reducing carbon emissions, expanding afforestation efforts, restoring land, and protecting the Kingdom's terrestrial and marine areas. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Hidden city built 5,000 years ago by lost advanced civilization discovered underneath vast desert
For centuries, the Rub' al-Khali desert near Saudi Arabia and Dubai — known as the Empty Quarter — was dismissed as a lifeless sea of sand. But now, it's revealing an astonishing secret. In 2002, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, spotted unusual dune formations and a large black deposit while flying over the desert. That led to the discovery of Saruq Al-Hadid, an archaeological site rich in remnants of copper and iron smelting, which is now believed to be part of a 5,000-year-old civilization buried beneath the sands. Researchers have now found traces of this ancient society approximately 10 feet beneath the desert surface, hidden in plain sight and long overlooked due to the harsh environment and shifting dunes of the Empty Quarter. The Rub' al-Khali spans more than 250,000 square miles, making it the world's largest expanse of continuous sand. This discovery brings fresh life to the legend of a mythical city, believed to have been swallowed by the desert as punishment from the gods. Moreover, people believed the Empty Quarter desert hid a lost city called Ubar. According to legend, Ubar was buried beneath the sand after being destroyed — either by a natural disaster or, as some stories say, by a god punishing its wicked residents. T.E. Lawrence, the British officer and writer famous for his role in the Arab Revolt during World War I, called Ubar the 'Atlantis of the Sands.' He described it as a city 'of immeasurable wealth, destroyed by God for arrogance, swallowed forever in the sands of the Rub' al-Khali desert.' Now, cutting-edge science may be catching up to ancient myth. Researchers from Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi employed Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology to penetrate the desert's surface, a tool that allows scientists to peer beneath the dunes without disturbing them. SAR works by sending out pulses of energy and measuring how much bounces back. In this case, archaeologists combined SAR data with high-resolution satellite images from WorldView-3 to scan beneath the desert sands at Saruq Al-Hadid. The radar detected buried structures and revealed clear signs of metal production, artifacts, and layers of animal bones in what archaeologists call midden deposits. By analyzing the radar data with advanced machine learning algorithms, researchers could identify patterns and shapes that pointed to ancient human activity. This method allowed them to uncover parts of the lost city. The findings suggest a complex, interconnected society that thrived in the region thousands of years ago. Researchers identified previously unknown settlements and roadways, which are strong indicators of long-term habitation and organized civilization. Layers at the site show bedrock, sand dunes, and patches of gypsum, with plenty of artifacts, ancient metal waste, and animal bones found throughout. SAR technology — when combined with AI — is increasingly becoming a game-changer for archaeological surveys, especially in environments where traditional excavation is nearly impossible. 'The case study of the Saruq Al-Hadid site illustrates the potential of these technologies to enhance archaeological surveys and contribute to heritage conservation efforts,' according to the research published in the journal. To validate the remote sensing data, researchers compared it with existing archaeological records and conducted field checks. The findings were accurate enough to prompt action from Dubai Culture, the government body overseeing the site. Excavations have now been approved in the newly identified areas. 'These regions remain largely unexplored, yet we know they hold cultural history,' Francis said. While little is currently known about the people who lived there 5,000 years ago, the discovery is already transforming our understanding of early civilizations in the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian Desert has been inhabited since the early Pleistocene, with Neolithic and Paleolithic tools found in the southwest Rub' al-Khali. Bedouin nomads adapted to desert life, focusing on camel herding, date farming, and oral storytelling — cultural practices that echo the resilience of ancient desert societies. Despite its current hyper-arid conditions, the region experienced periods of increased humidity between 6,000 and 5,000 years ago, forming shallow lakes due to significant rainfall events. These lakes supported diverse ecosystems, including flora, fauna, plants and algae — all crucial clues in painting a fuller picture of life in what was once thought uninhabitable. With each pass of the radar and layer of sand peeled back by science, the Empty Quarter is proving it was never truly empty.
