RIYADH: The Empty Quarter covers an area of about 640,000sq kms. (Transworld Expedition)The Empty Quarter covers an area of about 640,000sq kms.
The inauguration of a 680-kilometre long road linking Oman with Saudi Arabia is expected to be a historic milestone linking two of the biggest countries of the GCC by land for the first time ever.
The opening of the road, which will take place in October according to Saudi media, will create investment opportunities, boost tourism and business between the two countries, say officials and observers.
More than 200 million Omani riyals (Dh1.9 billion) have been spent by the Oman government on construction on its territory while the Saudi side has spent approximately one billion Saudi riyals.
The construction work on the road linking the two countries via the Empty Quarter was completed by the end of 2013, according to Omani authorities.
A 160-kilometre stretch of the road is in Oman, while 566 kilometres is in Saudi Arabia. In Oman, the road starts from Tanam area of Ibri province, passing through oilfields until it reaches the Oman-Saudi border in the Empty Quarter.
In Saudi Arabia, the stretch will link Haradh-Batha road with Al Shiba oilfield at a length of 319 kilometres and the stretch between Al Shiba and to the Omani border will be 247 kilometres.
The road has been called an “engineering marvel” as it is built through the moving sands of the vast Empty Quarter, the largest contiguous sand desert in the world, with an area of about 640,000 square kilometres. The project involved constructing sand bridges between high rising dunes, according to Famco, the Saudi contractor. 130 million cubic metres of sand was transported to construct the bridges. That, according to Famco, is equivalent to 26 pyramids.
The new road will cut the distance to Saudi Arabia by more than 500 kilometres. Currently, the distance between Oman and Saudi Arabia via UAE is nearly 2,000 kilometres.
It took Oman two-years to build the 160-kilometre stretch on its side while the Saudi authorities took four years to build the road on their side due to the longer distance and problems encountered in the moving of the sand.
Economic experts believe that the opening of new road will offer a vista of opportunities and boost trade and tourism.
Salim Al Hakmani, an economic expert, told Gulf News that the new road will enhance the volume of trade and economic exchange as goods can be traded without having to pay additional customs duties.
Al Hakmani added that additional revenues will be generated by attracting more investments in public services.
A significant growth is expected in the trade of cattle, cars as well as agricultural products.
Humaid Al Nasri, a member of the Shura Council, the elected advisory body representing Ibri, said the reduction of customs duties as per the agreements signed between the two countries under the Gulf Cooperation Council charter will further facilitate trade.
“The Omani-Saudi border will become a regional hub for goods’ transit with Duqm and Sohar ports being giving a much-needed push,” said Al Nasri.
Furthermore, Ali Saleh Al Kalbani, head of the Omani chamber for Commerce and Industry of Ibri province and a leading real estate company owner, told Gulf News that the creation of trade control measures at the borders will promote trade, and enhance investments in the industrial and tourism sectors.
Al Kalbani pointed out that the realty sector will flourish due to new investments.
