Transport

NoozzVIEW; On track for the future

The news that Oman is to launch a detailed feasibility study for developing a national rail network is the clearest possible evidence that the sultanate is determined to develop on a broad front towards a diversified future.

With a steadily growing population and an enviably stable and expanding economy, Oman is one of the GCC front-runners when it comes to planning for, and investing in, the future. That is particularly true of transport infrastructure.

ArabJet launches bid for Silverjet

ArabJet, a Dubai-based business-class airline, has launched a bid to buy the London-based Silverjet PLC.

Emirates Business 24/7 reported that ArabJet "has allocated sufficient funds to purchase" Silverjet, a business-class airline that suspended operations in late May after a key funding deal fell through. The newspaper did not say how much ArabJet was willing to pay for the airline. When contacted, ArabJet's CEO Mohammed el-Shanti said the company is interested in SilverJet's survival but would not confirm the Emirates Business 24/7 report.

NoozzVIEW; Go-ahead for airline sale

Kuwait Airways (founded back in 1954, the first airline ever created by an Arab state in the oil-rich Gulf) has seen the long-delayed government plan to sell off 40 percent of its shares to the public and 35 percent to a long-term investor, finally approved by the often fractious Kuwaiti Parliament.

The bill, approved for enactment within the next 10 months, envisages the state retaining a 20 percent stake, which might be sold off at some unspecified later stage, and the workers remaining owners of 5 percent.

Oman plans to construct two greenfield airports this year

Oman's authorities are expected to initiate construction work on two new greenfield airports before the end of this year.

First to be taken in hand for development is an international airport at Duqm in the Wusta region, where a world-scale ship repair yard is currently under construction. Next in line for implementation is a modest-sized airport facility at Ras Al Hadd in the Sharqiya region, where a string of eco-tourism resorts are planned.

Multi-billion dollar Iraqi transportation projects

Lucrative commercial opportunities will be made available for companies operating in the global transportation and communications technology sector following the formal announcement of the Iraq Transportation & Communications Technology Summit in Dubai on 9-10 October 2008.

The summit comes as a result of the clearly identified need to improve and develop Iraq’s transport infrastructure, with investment needed to regenerate the country’s railways, ports, airports and civil aviation sectors. The summit will welcome a high level delegation of senior officials from the Iraqi Ministry of Transport, including the state companies for railways, airlines, civil airlines and Iraqi ports.

UAE companies keen to invest in Sudan's new international airport

A leading UAE bank and two investment firms are keen to provide loans to Sudan for the new US$2.5-billion Khartoum International Airport, a Sudanese official said.

The Sudanese government is expected to award the contract for building the airport in August. Saudi Bin Ladin Group, Turkish airport operator TAV and a Chinese company are competing for the deal, the project's engineering and technical director Mudathir Ali said.

KGL Ports to ink US$170m contracts

Kuwait Gulf Link Ports International (KGL Ports) expects to close two contracts to operate seaports in Ghana and Gambia by the end of this year. The contracts are worth an estimated US$120 million and US$50m respectively.

In related news, the Kuwaiti port operator said that works at its project at the Damietta port in Egypt are advancing according to schedule and due to debut operations in 2009.