Overview
The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) is a proposed multi-modal trade infrastructure initiative announced at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, endorsed by India, the United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Israel, and the European Union.
IMEC envisions a corridor connecting:
- India → by sea to Gulf ports (UAE and/or Oman)
- Gulf ports → by rail across Saudi Arabia and Jordan
- Jordan/Israel → by sea to Greece and Europe
The corridor aims to provide a faster, cheaper alternative to the traditional Suez Canal route for India-Europe trade, reducing transit times by an estimated 40% and costs significantly.
Oman’s Position
Oman’s ports — particularly Sohar (positioned for Indian Ocean-facing trade) and Duqm (deep-water, outside Hormuz) — are geographically positioned to be IMEC nodes:
- Sohar is the closest major Omani port to India by sailing distance
- Duqm offers deep-water handling outside the Strait of Hormuz
- Oman’s neutral diplomatic stance makes it an acceptable partner for all corridor participants
If IMEC were to route through Oman (rather than exclusively through UAE), ASYAD’s port assets would become strategically significant at a new scale.
Geopolitical Challenges
IMEC’s realisation faces substantial obstacles:
- Israel-Gaza conflict (October 2023-present): The conflict has complicated Arab state normalization with Israel, which is a required corridor participant
- Jordan’s involvement: Jordan’s willingness to participate depends on regional political conditions
- Rail infrastructure: The proposed Arabian Peninsula rail link requires coordination and investment across multiple jurisdictions
- Political volatility: A US-election-linked initiative may face commitment sustainability questions
Status
IMEC remains an aspirational initiative rather than an operational project as of early 2026. Planning and MoU-level commitments exist, but construction has not commenced. The geopolitical environment needs to stabilise for IMEC to progress from concept to infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, IMEC represents a significant long-term opportunity for Oman’s logistics sector — one that Oman’s neutral diplomatic position makes it uniquely placed to benefit from.