Oman has intensified procurement linked to large-scale green hydrogen developments in Duqm as Muscat seeks to position itself among the world’s leading exporters of low-carbon fuels amid accelerating global demand for renewable energy infrastructure.
Recent tenders covering transmission systems, export facilities and hydrogen-linked industrial infrastructure form part of one of the Gulf’s most ambitious clean-energy investment programmes.
The projects are centred around the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, where authorities have allocated vast land blocks for hydrogen production powered by solar and wind energy. Industry executives said recent procurement rounds had attracted strong interest from European, Asian and Gulf consortiums seeking exposure to what could become a multibillion-dollar export sector over the next decade.
Energy analysts said Oman’s hydrogen strategy differed from that of larger Gulf neighbours because of its focus on export-oriented industrial development rather than domestic energy diversification alone.
“Oman is effectively trying to build an entirely new export economy around green molecules,” said one regional energy consultant. “Duqm is being positioned as a global gateway for hydrogen and ammonia trade.”
The procurement drive has also been reinforced by growing European interest in long-term hydrogen imports from the Gulf. Oman recently signed agreements linked to a proposed hydrogen corridor connecting Duqm with the Netherlands and Germany, strengthening expectations that the country could become a key supplier to European decarbonisation markets.
Market watchers expect additional procurement tied to export terminals, desalination systems and renewable power infrastructure to emerge over the next several years. Commentators said the success of Duqm’s hydrogen projects could fundamentally reshape Oman’s long-term economic model and regional energy role.