Oman’s Eid trade with UAE fired up by Hormuz disruption

• Trade surge ahead of celebration
• Demand for livestock truck deliveries
• 1m tonnes crosses border in three days

Omani traders are experiencing a surge in Eid al-Adha sales to the UAE as the Iran conflict drives up activity on the country’s overland border routes.

Shipping restrictions caused by the situation in the Strait of Hormuz have boosted demand for livestock and other goods to be delivered by road, an industry official said.

Live sheep and goats are among the main items in high demand. Animal sacrifice is a central ritual of Eid al-Adha, which begins on May 27 across the region.

Oman’s ministry of commerce and industry said nearly a million tonnes of goods have crossed by land from Oman to the UAE in the last three days.

Khalid Al-Qassabi, director general of industry at the ministry of commerce and industry, told AGBI overland border routes had become vital this Eid, offering an alternative channel for food and other seasonal supplies.

Qassabi said 900,000 tonnes of food and 200,000 sheep and goats have already crossed the Omani border to the UAE. He estimated there had been a 60 percent rise in trade across the UAE-Oman border compared to Eid al-Adha 2025.

• Oman’s logistics sector rises to the challenge of Iran war
• Trucking gains as Gulf logistics undergoes rapid change
• Iran war increases Oman border smuggling attempts

Oman’s border with Saudi Arabia is “also packed with trucks of Eid supplies making their way to waiting customers”, he added.

Earlier this month, Oman Public Authority for Special Economic and Free Zones said trade across the Oman and Saudi Arabia border has surged to record levels as companies reroute goods overland.

“This conflict has highlighted the importance of the road and the free zone near their borders by providing both countries with alternative supplies and routing away from regional problems,” said Essam Al Sheibany, vice president of sustainability at Asyad Group.