Defence Secretary announces investment in strategic Omani port
The Defence Secretary has announced a further £23.8 million investment in the UK logistics hub at Duqm port

Sep 12, Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP: The Defence Secretary has announced a further £23.8 million investment in the UK logistics hub at Duqm port, as part of a visit to Oman and Qatar to discuss shared security challenges and future collaboration.
The investment in the Omani port will triple the size of the existing UK base and help facilitate Royal Navy deployments to the Indian Ocean. It also has a dry dock facility which could support the UK’s two aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
The port was used in 2018 for Exercise Saif Sareea 3 and the expansion will further support British Army training in Oman.
On the Qatar leg of the visit, the Defence Secretary offered support to the Football World Cup in 2022, with the UK ready to provide advice and guidance needed to deliver a safe and successful event.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
The long standing friendships between the UK and the Gulf states are more important than ever. With shared defence and security interests, it is vital we work together for both regional and global stability. Our trade links are just as strong, too - from cotton to aerospace.
Whether tackling Daesh, or making our streets in the UK safer thanks to our intelligence networks, these are hugely valuable relationships that I am pleased to be able to renew this week.