Port of Duqm sits inside the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, the Middle East’s largest special economic zone, with deep-water berths on the Arabian Sea outside the Strait of Hormuz. This geography gives shipping lines direct blue-water access to GCC and Indian Ocean markets. It bypasses the choke-point risk that still shapes traffic through more established Gulf ports.
A young port pivots into regional car logistics
Recent data from Oman Observer and port disclosures show how fast the shift into vehicles is happening. Duqm’s dedicated Ro-Ro terminal handled 34,024 units through more than 20 vessel calls up to August 2026. That total includes over 600 high-and-heavy units such as buses and specialised equipment. The terminal’s annual handling capacity now exceeds 300,000 vehicles, giving room for growth without immediate congestion risk.
Against that backdrop, the arrival of the BYD Changsha is more than a headline vessel call. Shipping Arabia and Oman Observer reports state that the 219.9-metre ship carries capacity for around 9,200 vehicles. It brought more than 1,200 units to Duqm, of which over 200 were destined for Oman and more than 1,000 for the wider GCC. This split confirms Duqm’s role not just as an import gateway but as a redistribution point for regional markets.
Port of Duqm chief executive Reggy Vermeulen has described automotive logistics as a planned part of the port’s long-term strategy, building on earlier Ro-Ro calls alongside oil, gas and construction cargo. He has also highlighted that Duqm now serves Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and other GCC states through its vehicle flows, connecting Asian manufacturers with Gulf distributors via a single hub. That message aligns with the increasing interest from Chinese automakers, including BYD, in building dedicated export capacity to the region.
The Duqm vehicle hub narrative is backed by operations on the ground. Port communications and local press coverage show that Ro-Ro ships now call at Duqm roughly every two days during peak windows. Individual vessels can carry up to 5,000 vehicles per voyage. To keep dwell times tight, the port has hired more than 140 drivers, mostly Omani nationals, who can discharge about 1,000 vehicles in under a day under strict safety and speed protocols. For Gulf-focused investors, this combination of throughput, labour localisation and safety standards marks Duqm out as a serious automotive platform rather than a one-off diversion port.
What does the Duqm vehicle hub mean for logistics investors?
The port is expanding physical capacity to match this operational tempo. According to Oman Observer, Duqm is adding 25 hectares of new vehicle yard space, lifting on-site capacity to around 30,000 vehicles at any one time. This expansion supports higher-frequency calls by carriers such as BYD’s own fleet and major global operators including COSCO Shipping, which has been ramping up vehicle export volumes from China. It also allows longer dwell times for re-exports without blocking import flows.
Meanwhile, Duqm and parent logistics group Asyad are investing in operating systems and automation to increase efficiency across the Ro-Ro terminal and wider cargo operations. Vermeulen has reported annual cargo growth of between 15% and 20% in recent years, helped by this focus on systems and third-party equipment. As the port scales, its linkages with Oman Drydock’s ship-repair facilities in Duqm offer further synergies, since higher vessel arrivals increase the pool of potential repair customers.
For regional automotive supply chains, Duqm’s advantage lies in risk management and optionality. By offering a deep-water hub outside the Strait of Hormuz, with capacity for several hundred thousand vehicles a year and direct calls by some of the world’s largest car carriers, the port gives OEMs and distributors a hedge against route disruption. At the same time, it keeps access open to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other GCC markets. As one analyst note put it, Duqm is now a genuine Gulf vehicle logistics hub rather than a simple import terminal.
For sovereign wealth funds and logistics operators, the Duqm vehicle hub story points to a broader opportunity set. Adjacent warehousing, value-added services such as pre-delivery inspection, battery handling for electric vehicles, and inland distribution into Saudi Arabia and central Oman all stand to benefit as Ro-Ro volumes grow. Policy-makers will watch whether vehicle flows through Duqm continue to rise from the 34,024-unit level reported to August 2026, while investors should track new carrier agreements, the utilisation of the expanded 30,000-vehicle yard, and any moves to tie Duqm’s automotive growth more closely to Vision-style industrial strategies across the Gulf.
Quick answers
According to Oman Observer and port disclosures, Duqm’s Ro-Ro terminal handled 34,024 units through more than 20 vessel calls up to August 2026, including over 600 high-and-heavy units such as buses and specialised equipment.
The terminal’s annual handling capacity exceeds 300,000 vehicles, and the port is adding 25 hectares of new yard space to lift on-site storage capacity to around 30,000 vehicles at any one time.
Duqm sits on the Arabian Sea outside the Strait of Hormuz, giving shipping lines direct access to GCC and Indian Ocean markets while avoiding choke-point risk. Its deep-water berths can handle some of the world’s largest car carriers, including the 219.9-metre BYD Changsha with capacity for around 9,200 vehicles.
