Oman is the latest country in the Gulf region to become TIR operational, unlocking its regional and international trade potential.
With turnover expected to drop by 19% in the Middle East according to figures from IRU’s COVID-19 Impact Report, saving costs is particularly important for Omani road freight operators. TIR answers this need by eliminating any additional customs guarantees in transit countries, speeding up border crossing procedures and reducing operating costs for businesses.
Oman committed to becoming TIR operational at the 2018 IRU World Congress held in Muscat. Since then, IRU, Oman Customs and IRU members ASYAD and SINYAR have collaborated closely to successfully implement TIR in Oman.
With dedicated TIR lanes in place between Oman and the UAE and existing trade links with other TIR operational countries including India, Pakistan and China, Oman can take advantage of faster and more secure transit in the region and beyond.
The first TIR transport between Saudi Arabia and the UAE crossed the border in just four hours instead of the usual two days, which exemplifies the kind of benefits TIR can bring to the region.
As the next step, Oman has shown a strong interest in introducing eTIR as soon as possible. The paperless solution will further speed up customs procedures and reduce the need for human contact at borders, enabling operators to comply with COVID-19 containment measures.