Car Shipping to Muscat (Port Sultan Qaboos), Oman
In a natural harbour at Muttrah in Muscat Governorate, on Oman's Gulf of Oman coast. UK Vehicle Exporters Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Muscat (Port Sultan Qaboos), handling the whole UK side for you: car sourcing, tax-free supply where the car qualifies, buying on your behalf, inspections, collection and delivery to the UK port, UK customs clearance and loading onto the ship.
About Port Sultan Qaboos
Port Sultan Qaboos opened in 1974 and was for decades Muscat's main commercial port. On 31 August 2014 the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced that it would stop commercial operations and become a cruise and tourism port, citing congested roads in Muscat. Cargo operations moved to SOHAR Port.
Area served: Muscat and the surrounding capital area.
How Vehicles Are Handled at Muscat (Port Sultan Qaboos)
Cars are not landed at Muscat itself. On 31 August 2014 Oman moved container, general-cargo and ro-ro vehicle traffic from Port Sultan Qaboos to SOHAR Port on the Batinah coast north-west of Muscat, where RoRo car carriers berth at the C. Steinweg Oman terminal and containers go through Hutchison Ports Sohar. Port Sultan Qaboos now handles cruise ships, liquid bulk, grain, naval vessels and dhows, and the transport ministry's 2025 framework for the port covers crew changes and ship services, not cargo. Höegh Autoliners lists Sohar and Salalah as its Omani ports, but its vessel schedule still names Port Sultan Qaboos on some calls, which is why sailings appear below; we confirm the actual discharge port when you book, and a car for the capital goes through Sohar and travels on by road.
- Opened
- 1974
- Current role
- Cruise and tourism port (commercial cargo ended from 2014)
- Ro-ro vehicle traffic moved to Sohar
- 31 August 2014
- Actual port for cars to Muscat
- SOHAR Port (C. Steinweg Oman RoRo terminal)
- Cargo still handled
- Liquid bulk and grain only
Shipping a Car from the UK to Muscat (Port Sultan Qaboos)
We handle the whole UK side of an export to Muscat (Port Sultan Qaboos): sourcing the vehicle, tax-free supply from the selling dealer where the car qualifies, collection from any UK address, UK customs clearance and export documentation, and loading onto the ship by RoRo or container. Current carrier schedules show 5-8 weeks port to port, sailing from Southampton and Newcastle. Lines on the route include Höegh Autoliners.
Any import duty and taxes are paid by the importer, whoever clears the car. We can arrange customs clearance, registration and delivery to your door through a local agent, quoted separately, or work with an agent of your choice. For costs, the full sailing schedule and everything else about exporting to Oman, see our Oman shipping guide.
Upcoming Sailings to Muscat (Port Sultan Qaboos)
Dates are carrier estimates and must be reconfirmed before booking.
| Departs | From | Arrives | Vessel | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 2026 | Southampton | 19 Nov 2026 | Höegh Starlight | Höegh Autoliners |
| 25 Oct 2026 | Newcastle | 14 Dec 2026 | Höegh Tracer | Höegh Autoliners |
| 5 Nov 2026 | Southampton | 14 Dec 2026 | Höegh Tracer | Höegh Autoliners |
| 1 Dec 2026 | Southampton | 9 Jan 2027 | Höegh Traveller | Höegh Autoliners |
Our Other Services
UK Car Sourcing & Supply
We source any new or used vehicle from any manufacturer in the UK, through our network of franchised dealers, car auctions, classified listings and private sellers, then inspect, purchase and export it to your country.
Buy a Car in the UK on Your Behalf
We check, view and buy the UK car you've found, from a dealer or a private seller, then ship it to you, protecting you from the pitfalls of paying an unknown seller from overseas.
Tax-Free & VAT-Free Vehicle Supply
We find new and VAT-qualifying used cars from VAT-registered dealers who will sell them free of UK VAT for export, which takes a sixth off a VAT-inclusive price. The saving comes from the dealer, not as a refund from us: we are not VAT registered. We arrange the export and give the dealer the proof it needs.
New / Used Car Export
We export new and used cars from the UK every week, sourced from our dealer, auction and trade network or supplied by you, given a multi-point inspection before shipment and shipped worldwide by RoRo or container.
Pre-Purchase Inspections
Before you commit to a car, we check its DVLA, MOT and recall records and run a paid UK history check, then view it, compare it with its logbook and send you photos and a video. A full mechanical inspection by an independent inspector can be added, quoted separately.
Government Pre-Shipping Inspection
Where the destination country requires a pre-export roadworthiness inspection, we arrange it with the approved inspection agency before the sailing so the vehicle is not held up on arrival. Quoted separately from the shipping price.
UK Vehicle Collection & Delivery
We collect any vehicle from any UK address and deliver it to the departure port at £1 per mile, driven on DVLA plates or moved on a carrier, timed to meet the booked sailing.
Secure Vehicle Storage
Vehicles wait with us in a secure compound between purchase and sailing, so there is no rush to move a car the day you buy it and nothing accumulating in storage charges at the port. Quoted separately from the shipping price.
Paintwork Reconditioning
Where a car would arrive the better for it, we can recondition the paintwork before it ships — worth doing while the vehicle is with us rather than paying to sort it out after it lands. Quoted separately from the shipping price.
UK Vehicle Customs Clearance
We make export declarations directly on the UK customs system and prepare every document needed at the UK port of exit, including the Bill of Lading, export certificate and DVLA export documentation.
Other Ports in Oman
Shipping to Muscat (Port Sultan Qaboos)?
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