Shipping Companies Shift Gulf Cargo to Truck Routes as Oman-Saudi Border Trade Jumps to $830 Million
Updated
Updated · The Maritime Executive · May 11
Shipping Companies Shift Gulf Cargo to Truck Routes as Oman-Saudi Border Trade Jumps to $830 Million
2 articles · Updated · The Maritime Executive · May 11
March trade through the Ramlet Khelah Oman-Saudi crossing nearly tripled to $830 million from $300 million in February as shippers rerouted Gulf consignments around the closed Strait of Hormuz.
Route 95 has become a key bypass, linking Saudi Arabia to Oman through the Empty Quarter and cutting travel time by 16 hours versus older desert or UAE detours.
MSC and Hapag-Lloyd are adding sea-land services via Red Sea ports, with cargo moving by truck across Saudi Arabia to Dammam before feeder links carry it to Gulf destinations.
Saudi Arabia is also accelerating five freight corridors and leaning more on Route 85 toward Jordan and Mediterranean ports as it builds alternatives to blocked Gulf access.
Truck and driver shortages may ease quickly, but limited capacity at Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Sohar and Salalah poses a harder constraint on the new logistics network.
Are new Arabian land bridges a permanent trade solution or just an expensive, temporary fix?
With billions invested in new routes, can Gulf states overcome political rivalries to ensure their success?
Strait of Hormuz Shutdown 2026: Economic Fallout, Supply Chain Chaos, and the Future of Global Energy Security
Overview
In early 2026, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East led to weeks of military buildup and threats from President Trump, followed by large-scale U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. The attacks targeted Iranian military assets and resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with his son Mojtaba quickly appointed as successor. Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. and Israeli facilities, and the conflict soon spilled into the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint. This closure disrupted global energy markets, triggered severe economic fallout, and forced Gulf nations to rapidly adapt their trade and logistics strategies.