Duqm Airport has opened for business according to a report published by the Times of Oman. The opening was announced by Oman’s Special Economic Zone Authority of Duqm, SEZAD.

The first flight out of the airport took off at 5pm on September 17, and was said to represent Oman’s move towards economic diversification through its Tanfeedh plans.

The airport’s passenger terminal is spread over 5,700sqm and passenger traffic is expected to be around 500,000 per annum. The airport’s cargo terminal meanwhile has been designed to accommodate 25,000 tonnes of goods annually.

The airport has a four-kilometer-long runway, which allows it to operate on an international level, and is said to be a major component of SEZAD. SEZAD is also said to boast a well-developed road network and a logistics zone to service both the airport and the seaport, which will contain logistics services related to aviation and port activities, car hire, tanker services, marine shipping offices, warehouses and industrial and real estate services.