MUSCAT: Oman is set to introduce its first hydrogen-powered city bus on public transport routes in Muscat as part of a wider partnership with South Korean automotive conglomerate Hyundai Motor Group aimed at accelerating the Sultanate of Oman’s transition towards low-carbon mobility, smart cities and cleaner transport infrastructure.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed earlier this week at the Gulf Green Mobility Forum in Salalah between Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) and Hyundai Motor Group, establishing a framework for cooperation in smart-city development and environmentally friendly mobility.
The agreement, initially valid for one year and subject to automatic renewal, covers areas including electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel-cell mobility and smart-city technologies.
It also positions Hyundai as a potential technology partner in Oman’s efforts to develop sustainable urban centres, including flagship developments such as Sultan Haitham City, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Under the landmark pact, the 24-seat ELEC CITY Fuel Cell bus will be operated by Mwasalat, Oman’s national public transport operator, under a pilot agreement signed with the South Korean automotive group. The vehicle is scheduled to enter passenger service during the third quarter of 2026, with the pilot continuing until the third quarter of 2027.
Significantly, the initiative is being structured as an actual passenger transport service rather than simply a technology demonstration. During the year-long programme, Mwasalat and Hyundai will assess the bus under real-world operating conditions, including its reliability, efficiency and environmental performance compared with conventional diesel buses.
The hydrogen bus initiative forms part of a broader package of green mobility cooperation unveiled by Hyundai Motor Group in Oman.
“We are delighted to establish strategic partnerships with MoTCIT today. HMG is committed to helping turn Oman’s Vision 2040 ambitions into tangible outcomes through collaboration in smart cities and future mobility,” said Hokeun Chung, Executive Vice-President and Head of Future Strategy Division at Hyundai Motor Group.
Separately, Hyundai is partnering with Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO) and its EV charging brand EVO on the deployment of a 240-kilowatt DC ultra-fast electric vehicle charger at an Oman Oil service station in Halban, near Muscat.
OOMCO and Hyundai Motor Group, as well as EVO and Hyundai Kefico, have signed separate agreements supporting the project. The charger will undergo testing during the third and fourth quarters of 2026, including trials designed to evaluate its performance during Oman’s high-temperature summer conditions.
The hydrogen bus and ultra-fast charging projects will also serve as testbeds for potentially wider deployment of the technologies across Oman.
For the hydrogen bus, the partners will assess operational reliability, efficiency on daily public transport routes and emissions benefits. The EV charging pilot will evaluate charging performance, customer demand and commercial feasibility.
Results will be measured against agreed key performance indicators, Hyundai said. Subject to the outcome of the trials, the partners will explore opportunities to expand the services and potentially move towards formal procurement and broader commercial deployment.
The initiatives support Oman’s wider push to decarbonise its transport sector while developing the infrastructure needed for electric and hydrogen-powered mobility. They also complement the Sultanate’s longer-term ambitions under Oman Vision 2040 to promote sustainable cities, cleaner energy technologies and lower-carbon economic growth.
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