Oman plans wheat grain storage facility in Ibra as food security investment grows
The planned facility in North Al Sharqiyah will add grain storage capacity as Oman strengthens its food supply infrastructure.
OMAN – Oman plans to award a contract for a wheat grain storage facility in Ibra, North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, in the third quarter of 2026.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources will oversee the project, which will involve the construction of a 10-by-20-metre storage unit.
The facility will add to Oman’s grain handling capacity and support the movement and storage of wheat within the country. Its location in North Al Sharqiyah also gives the project a link to inland farming areas and transport routes that connect agricultural areas with other parts of the country.
The planned investment comes as Oman strengthens its food supply systems and seeks to reduce risks linked to reliance on imported food. Grain storage allows countries to hold supplies for longer periods and manage changes in international markets and shipping conditions.
Oman has also invested in milling, port infrastructure and agricultural development. The Ibra facility forms part of this wider effort to improve how the country stores and moves grain from entry points to processing and distribution centres.
The project also has a wider regional context. Oman has attracted attention as a possible link between grain suppliers and African markets because of its location and transport connections.
In June 2026, Russian economist Vitaly Melyantsev said a proposed grain hub in Oman could support the movement of Russian grain to East Africa. The project remains under discussion, but Melyantsev said the hub could serve as a transshipment point for grain moving into regional markets.
“The hub would serve as a transshipment center for Russian grain destined for East Africa,” Melyantsev said.
His comments came alongside news of the Novorossiysk-Lagos-Dakar shipping route, which began service in 2026. The route links Russia with Nigeria and Senegal and carries grain, fertilisers and other agricultural goods. Melyantsev said the route had reduced cargo transit times between Russia and West Africa to about 21 days.
For Oman, the Ibra storage project remains a domestic food infrastructure investment. However, the planned facility comes as the country develops wider grain handling and transport links that could support trade with markets beyond its borders.
The project also reflects a wider trend across Africa and the Middle East, where governments and businesses are investing in grain storage, milling and logistics to improve food supply and manage changes in global agricultural trade.
Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
