Oman targets mega-ship capability as local cruise tourism sector enjoys rapid growth

Port Sultan Qaboos in Oman, the cruise port gateway to Muscat, is set to undergo a redevelopment that will include berth expansions following a record 2024/25 season, with new infrastructure potentially capable of hosting Icon-class vessels.

Oman is moving ahead with a major infrastructure upgrade at Port Sultan Qaboos in its capital, which could position Muscat to accommodate some of the world’s largest cruise ships. 

The announcement comes at the close of a record-breaking 2024/25 season, during which the port welcomed 190 cruise calls—far surpassing its initial target of 134.

The country’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has launched a tender process to appoint a consultancy firm to support the planned expansion, which includes construction of a new berth, a breakwater, and substantial reclamation works. 

Although the final berth dimensions have yet to be confirmed, cruise industry analysts note that Oman is likely aiming for a berth length of at least 370 metres—sufficient to handle mega ships such as Icon of the Seas and MSC World Europa.

The latter is particularly significant given that MSC World Europa, measuring 333 metres in length and designed to hold her own against the capacity of Royal Caribbean’s largest vessels, will return to the region for the 2026/27 winter cruise season. 

With Muscat a long-standing key feature of Arabian Gulf itineraries, the ability to berth larger vessels could prove pivotal in securing future calls by the newest and most high-capacity ships, especially as cruise vessels homeporting in the region continue to grow in size.

This next phase of development builds on the port’s ongoing transformation into a national hub for cruise tourism. The port currently features nine berths totalling 1,750 metres, and its passenger terminal is undergoing modernisation to align with the broader cruise-focused strategy and keep pace with similar cruise infrastructure upgrades in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.

Once a key cargo gateway, Port Sultan Qaboos has seen a steady shift toward passenger operations since the early 2010s, mirroring the cargo to cruise shift that took place in Dubai’s Port Rashid and Abu Dhabi’s Port Zayed. 

The current upgrade, expected to roll out in three phases, will begin with rehabilitation of existing infrastructure before expanding into new equipment, systems, and ultimately, the construction of a berth tailored for larger cruise ships.

The deadline for consultancy bids is July 24th, 2025, marking the start of a multi-year redevelopment expected to reshape Muscat’s cruise offering—and potentially elevate Oman as a homeport or turnaround stop on regional itineraries.