CMA CGM’s Strategic Move to the Arabian Continent: French Logistics Strengthening in Oman [ANALYSIS]

CMA CGM has launched a new vessel in its series of ten liquefied natural gas-powered container ships with a capacity of 24,000 TEU. This news has dominated logistics portals. But more important for logisticians involved in container transport is the news that Oman’s Asyad Group and the French CMA CGM Group have signed a framework agreement for the construction, management, and operation of a multi-purpose logistics terminal in the Omani port of Sohar.

The Port of Sohar is a major port located in Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman, and on the route to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. It is a strategically located deepwater logistics hub. Vessels serving this container port have not been blocked in the Persian Gulf. Container cargo handling is provided by Hutchison Ports Sohar. The terminal can accommodate mega-container ships (up to 20,000 TEU).

The port is a multi-purpose port. In 2025, it welcomed over 3,400 ships, container ships, tankers, and bulk carriers. As a result, 72 million tons of goods were transshipped, 10 million tons more than the previous year. The port is practically one large duty-free zone. The port and the Sohar Free Zone are jointly managed by the Port of Rotterdam branch and the ASYAD Group. In 2025, dry bulk cargo dominated transshipment, exceeding 30% of ship-to-shore operations. Significant revenues are generated by the pumping of over 20 million tons of liquid cargo onto ships. The supply of containers ensures the transshipment of over 7.5 million tons of unitized goods in various forms.

Container ships blocked in the Persian Gulf on March 2, 2026. Source: Alphaliner

The fact that the agreement was signed during an official visit by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to France demonstrates the importance of this area of ​​economic activity for both parties. The contract forms the basis for the construction of a new multi-functional logistics terminal south of the Strait of Hormuz, worth $400 million.

The company CEOs stated that this project “will enhance integrated logistics services and supply chain solutions, strengthen regional and international trade corridors, increase transshipment volumes, and strengthen Omani ports’ connections with global shipping networks and international markets.”

French Shipowner in the Persian Gulf

The French operator’s choice of port in Oman was not accidental. Following the US attack on Iran and the blockade of ships in the Persian Gulf, CMA CGM quickly implemented emergency multimodal solutions for its customers. The goal was to ensure deliveries to customers in the United Arab Emirates and the northern Persian Gulf (Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait) without having to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

CMA CGM Logistics implemented alternative multimodal connections in March 2026, incorporating sea, rail, and road transport into its logistics networks. The goal was to bypass the blockage and maintain the smooth flow of cargo amidst congestion in the Strait of Hormuz.

Quick action was necessary, as more than a dozen of the company’s vessels were stranded in the Persian Gulf. On March 2, Alphaliner reported the stranding of 138 container ships in the Gulf, with a total capacity of nearly 470,000 TEU. The carriers most affected were MSC and CMA CGM, with fifteen (109,000 TEU) and fourteen (70,000 TEU) vessels waiting at anchor in the port with containers, respectively.

In March 2026, French logistics operators secured logistics corridors through the United Arab Emirates. Ports south of the Strait of Hormuz, Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, and Sohar were selected. From these ports, CMA CGM launched logistics corridors serving the main transshipment hubs in the UAE (Khalifa, Jabal Ali, Sharjah).

An alternative road corridor through Saudi Arabia was opened. The port of Jeddah on the Red Sea was activated. From Jeddah, CMA CGM established road corridors, with and without sea connections, enabling onward delivery to Dammam in Saudi Arabia, as well as to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.

Alternative multimodal connections in the Arabian Peninsula launched by CMA CGM in March 2026. Source: CMA CGM

Oman’s ports were also a key element of alternative logistics networks in the Persian Gulf. These ports provided “road connections with the United Arab Emirates and the northern Gulf countries, combining road and feeder services, offering a reliable alternative to regional and cross-border flows,” CMA CGM announced in a press release on March 17, 2026.

Oman on a Wave of Growth

In 2025, the period preceding the blockade of the Persian Gulf, Oman’s seaports recorded a strong increase in cargo supply. Following a strong 2024, this strengthened the Sultanate’s growing position as a regional maritime and logistics hub, according to data published by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) in its “Omani Ports Statistics During 2025” report. Oman’s container terminals, among others, saw a 21.6% increase in container throughput in 2025, reports “Shipping Arabia.”

Record supply was recorded in car imports. Exactly 98,968 vehicles were imported to the Arabian Peninsula through Oman’s ro-ro maritime terminals in 2025. This was an 8.3% increase compared to the 91,374 passenger cars and vehicles imported the previous year. According to MoTCIT, “This increase reflects stronger import and export demand in the automotive sector and improved port operational capabilities.”

Increased imports and exports have led to increased vessel traffic at the Sultanate’s ports. A total of 13,576 vessel calls were recorded in 2025, representing a 9.5% year-on-year increase. The Ministry of Transport states that “These figures underscore Oman’s growing attractiveness as a reliable destination and transshipment point for regional and global carriers, supported by its strategic location along the main East-West trade corridors connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe,” according to the Oman Observer.

Ports across the Sultanate handled over 5,178,600 TEUs in 2025, representing a remarkable 21.6% increase compared to 2024’s container throughput of 4.26 million TEUs. “This growth reflects the growth of container trade and the evolving role of Omani ports in transshipment, distribution, and value-added logistics services,” notes MoTCIT.

The transshipment of liquid bulk cargoes also led to a growth in the overall cargo volume, reflecting the upward trend in the utilization of fuel and bulk terminals. In 2025, a total of 143.49 million tons of bulk and general cargo were pumped and handled in 2025. This represented a 4.3% increase compared to 137.62 million tons in 2024.

Seaports Power Oman’s Economy

The Omani Ministry of Transport stated that “the strong results are in line with the national goals set out in the Oman Vision 2040 strategy, which prioritizes increasing port competitiveness, logistics integration, and economic diversification.” This was explained by the “continuous investment in port infrastructure, digital transformation, and connectivity to free zones and logistics hubs have contributed to improved cargo flows and reduced turnaround times.”

MoTCIT also emphasized that “the steady growth in maritime indicators demonstrates the sector’s resilience to fluctuations in global trade. By strengthening operational efficiency and deepening regional and international connections, Oman’s ports continue to position themselves as reliable gateways for global trade.”

The role of Oman’s seaports in the region has significantly increased during the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Sultanate is focusing on foreign investors, such as operators from China and France. It was noted that the agreement between the French and Omani operators combines the marketing potential of both companies.

The goal of the collaboration is to strengthen the market position of Oman’s ports “as global trade hubs, improve operational efficiency, and provide services to customers throughout the region,” according to Asyad Group management. “This partnership reflects Asyad Group’s vision of building strategic partnerships with leading global companies to enhance the commercial attractiveness of Oman’s ports and maximize the economic value of their assets.”

Oman Seaports network. Source: „The role of FDI in enhancing Oman’s ports sector”, autorzy: Omer Ali Ibrahim, Sufian Abdel-Gadir, Sufian Abdel-Gadir, Sonal Devesh, Sonal Devesh, November 2018, Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs 11(1):1-14.

France-Oman Logistics Partnership

Abdulrahman Al Hatmi, CEO of Asyad Group, emphasizes: “This collaboration will open new opportunities for attracting trade flows and high-quality investments to ports, free and economic zones, and will strengthen Oman’s position in global supply chains, supporting the Sultanate’s goals of establishing itself as a key international trade and logistics hub.”

“This partnership with the Asyad Group represents a significant step in the development of our logistics and port operations in the Persian Gulf. By building a new logistics terminal in Sohar, we will strengthen regional connections while providing reliable access to key hinterland trade corridors. This will ensure greater resilience and efficiency in our customers’ supply chains,” Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group, explained in a statement explaining the capital investment.

Significantly, the investment in the Arab market reflects our confidence in Oman’s long-term vision and our commitment to strengthening its position as a strategic link between the Persian Gulf and global markets.

The Asyad Group is not a local entity. It is a strong group that manages a logistics network spanning over 76 cities in 24 countries and operates a fleet of over 100 vessels serving over 90 destinations and connecting over 200 commercial ports worldwide.

CMA CGM’s logistics division operates over 60 container terminals worldwide through its subsidiaries, CMA Terminals, and the Terminal Link joint venture with China Merchants Port (49%). Among other operations, CMA Terminals manages the Khalifa Port terminal in the United Arab Emirates. It is jointly owned by CMA CGM Group (70%) and AD Ports Group (30%).