- Oman-UAE ‘green corridor’ established
- Streamlined customs processes
- 10,000 tonnes of food transported in just three days
Merchants in Khasab, an Omani town, are actively working to address any food supply interruptions affecting the UAE and surrounding Gulf regions due to the ongoing conflict with Iran, particularly as the celebrations for Eid Al Fitr begin.
Khasab, located on the Musandam peninsula at the northern extremity of Oman, sits along the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has imposed restrictions on shipments entering and leaving the Gulf.
“This Eid has proven to be our most lucrative yet, with a surge in food orders coming in from the UAE. Although it’s a small village, its strategic location near the UAE is vital during these challenging times,” remarked Layth Al-Farsi, a food supplier based in Khasab.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Oman reported that over 10,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables have been transported overland from Khasab to the UAE in the past three days.
The ministry noted that the supply chain is part of an ongoing effort that will continue throughout the Eid holiday, which begins on March 20. Oman is observing a five-day holiday, while the UAE will have four days off.
Khasab is included in an Omani-UAE ‘green corridor’ that facilitates the movement of goods to the ports in Oman and across the border with simplified customs procedures.
Additionally, the town has set a record by supplying 22,000 live goats and sheep to customers in the UAE.
Despite this, traders have reported that trucks are still lined up to deliver food to the UAE for Eid celebrations.
According to the World Economic Forum, the UAE relies on imports for approximately 85 to 90 percent of its food supply.
In an effort to mitigate potential food shortages linked to the conflict, Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communication, and Information Technology is constructing warehouses in Sohar, a city near the UAE border.
Earlier this week, UAE officials assured that the flow of food, agricultural, and livestock products would remain uninterrupted through all entry points in preparation for Eid.
From January 1 to March 18, the UAE accepted 1,454 livestock shipments, as reported by Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, the undersecretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in the UAE.
All border entry points across the emirates, including those with Oman, are functioning at full capacity, according to Nuaimi.
