Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority has officially activated a new integrated land-sea logistics corridor linking the UAE emirate directly with three major Omani ports: Sohar, Duqm, and Salalah. The first commercial shipments crossed the border on May 14, dispatched from Port Khalid in Sharjah, through the Khatmat Malaha crossing in Kalba, and into Sohar Port. Two-way cargo movement is now fully operational.
Why This Corridor Was Built and Why Now
Khorfakkan Port on Sharjah's eastern coast already serves as a major regional shipping hub, providing direct access to Indian Ocean trade routes without requiring vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The new Oman corridor extends that advantage by creating a fast-tracked land bridge connecting Sharjah's infrastructure to Sohar's deep-water capabilities and Salalah's position as a major transhipment hub.
| Border Crossing | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Khatmat Malaha | Primary gateway closest to Sohar Port | Kalba, UAE |
| Al Madam | Secondary crossing for additional UAE origin points | Sharjah–Oman border |
Key operational features of the corridor include:
- Direct Border Clearance: Customs clearance executed directly at Sharjah's land border crossings, with no redundant offloading or inspection stages.
- Fast-Track Freight Lanes: Dedicated lanes that bypass standard commercial traffic delays.
- Pre-Processing of Cargo Data: Digital processing of manifests before trucks arrive at the gate.
- Real-Time Data Exchange: Continuous data sharing between the UAE and Omani border authorities for safety, security, and risk management alignment.
What This Means for Free Zone Operators and Manufacturers
For businesses operating within Sharjah's free zones, including Hamriyah Free Zone and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone), the corridor opens new routing options that didn't exist two weeks ago. Goods can now move efficiently through Oman's port infrastructure to reach South Asian, East African, and Southeast Asian markets. Equally, imported goods arriving at Sohar or Salalah can now flow rapidly into the UAE domestic markets via Sharjah's land crossings.
Air Freight Is the Next Phase
The Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority has confirmed that the May 14 launch is only Phase 1. The next planned expansion is the integration of air freight services into the corridor, creating a multi-modal network combining land, sea, and air movement. Sharjah International Airport already serves as a significant air cargo hub; connecting its capabilities to the Oman corridor would create a genuinely integrated logistics network for time-sensitive cargo.
