Oman’s National Ferries Company carried more than 250,000 passengers in 2025, underscoring rising demand for maritime links between the sultanate’s mainland, islands and remote coastal governorates.The Muscat-based operator, which provides passenger, vehicle and cargo ferry services, averaged about 690 passengers a day through the year. Its vessels also transported more than 64,000 vehicles and over 27,000 tonnes of cargo across domestic maritime routes, strengthening the role of sea transport in connecting communities where road access is either lengthy, limited or seasonal.
The figures point to a steady rebound in coastal mobility and tourism-linked travel, particularly on routes serving Musandam and Masirah Island. Demand is shaped by residents, traders, visitors and public-sector movement, with ferry services providing an alternative to long road journeys across mountainous or remote terrain. The company’s network has become an important part of Oman’s broader transport system as the country seeks to improve domestic connectivity and build tourism and logistics as pillars of economic diversification.
National Ferries Company operates five passenger and vehicle ferries and a cargo and landing vessel. Its fleet includes Shanna, with capacity for 15 passengers and 38 vehicles, and Jawharat Masirah, which can carry 154 passengers and 38 vehicles. Al Hallaniyat, Hormuz and Saqra each have capacity for 106 passengers and 12 vehicles, while the Al Hallaniyat landing craft can handle 12 passengers, 30 vehicles and 48 containers.
The company’s services cover high-speed scheduled trips, passenger seating categories, commercial freight movement and logistical support for different sectors. Seasonal voyages are also part of the operating model, allowing visitors to travel along the coastline and reach island destinations that are central to Oman’s nature-based tourism offering.
Traffic patterns remain closely linked to the country’s tourism calendar. Musandam sees higher ferry movement during the cooler winter months from November to February, when domestic and foreign visitors travel to the governorate for fjords, coastal cruises and mountain scenery. Masirah Island records stronger activity from April to October, coinciding with turtle nesting, camping and adventure travel. Summer holidays also add to passenger volumes across the network.
The passenger total follows wider investment in transport and tourism infrastructure under Oman Vision 2040, which places logistics, tourism and non-oil economic activity at the centre of long-term development. Ferry services support that agenda by reducing travel time, improving access to outlying areas and linking local markets with ports and service centres.
The company’s role is also social as well as commercial. For residents in areas such as Lima, Khasab and Masirah, ferries support access to healthcare, education, government services and family movement. For businesses, the cargo and vehicle capacity helps move supplies, equipment and consumer goods, especially where sea links are more practical than land routes.
Oman’s coastline of more than 3,000 kilometres gives maritime transport a strategic function beyond tourism. The geography includes peninsulas, islands and coastal communities separated by mountains and long stretches of road. That terrain has made ferries a practical service for both passenger mobility and small-scale freight, particularly as the government works to integrate ports, roads, airports and logistics zones.
The operator has also highlighted employment as part of its domestic contribution, with Omanisation at about 97 per cent. That level is significant in a sector requiring maritime skills, vessel operations, engineering support, customer service and logistics management. The company’s workforce profile aligns with national efforts to expand skilled employment in transport and logistics.
Development work is now focused on vessel efficiency and service quality. Projects include upgrading and refurbishing existing vessels and constructing a new passenger and vehicle ferry through ASYAD Drydock. The planned addition is expected to support future expansion, improve reliability and raise capacity on routes where passenger and vehicle demand is growing.
The performance comes as Oman continues to position itself as a regional logistics and tourism gateway, supported by ports, airports, free zones and expanding road links. Ferry services occupy a smaller but visible part of that strategy by connecting domestic destinations and supporting travel experiences that depend on coastal access.
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Oman