Accelerating Oman’s Electric Mobility Transition with a National EV Charging Map
Mohamed Al Mujaini
EVO Board Member
As Oman advances toward a low-carbon future, the transport sector stands at the center of the nation’s decarbonization strategy. The Sultanate has already begun a remarkable journey toward electric mobility, setting a national target of 22,000 electric vehicles (EVs) and 300 public chargers by 2030. Over the past two years, the number of EVs on Omani roads has grown significantly, driven by the increasing availability of EV models through official dealers, government encouragement, and growing consumer awareness.
Fuel marketing companies have also played an essential role in supporting this transition. Companies have taken the lead in installing charging stations across their fuel retail networks — a commendable step that marks the beginning of a new era in Oman’s mobility landscape.
However, while charger numbers are increasing, their distribution remains uneven and largely opportunistic — often determined by the availability of electrical power or ease of installation rather than a coordinated national plan. This has resulted in clusters of chargers in Muscat, where most EVs are currently concentrated, but limited coverage in other governorates. As EV adoption spreads beyond Muscat, this imbalance could risk slowing progress, amplifying “range anxiety” and creating inefficiencies in grid planning.
Why Oman Needs a National EV Charging Map
A National EV Charging Map is not just a tool for locating chargers — it is a strategic planning framework that connects mobility, energy, and infrastructure. It would guide where chargers should be located, what type of chargers are needed (fast vs. standard), and how they can be integrated with Oman’s evolving electricity grid.
Such a map would deliver multiple benefits:
- Optimize Charger Distribution:
Ensure equitable access to EV charging infrastructure across all regions — from Muscat to Salalah and from coastal areas to interior towns — enabling intercity and tourism mobility. - Reduce Range Anxiety:
By providing transparent, reliable data on charger availability and locations, users can plan journeys confidently, boosting public trust in EV technology. - Support Grid Planning and Stability:
Integrating charging infrastructure data with the national grid operator’s systems would help forecast electricity demand, manage load distribution, and avoid local grid congestion and paving the way for a hub-based charging concept
Figure 1. Interaction of EVs with the power grid
- Encourage Investment:
A clear national map backed by government policy provides certainty for private investors, CPOs (Charging Point Operators), and fuel marketing companies, encouraging coordinated infrastructure development.
- Enable Data-Driven Policy:
Through real-time data integration, the map could serve as a platform to monitor usage patterns, guide incentives, and assess progress toward Oman Vision 2040 sustainability goals.
Global Lessons: How Other Nations Are Mapping Their EV Futures
Norway: A Data-Driven Charging Ecosystem
Norway, the global leader in EV adoption, has built a nationally integrated charging network map operated through NOBIL, a public database that connects all CPOs and charging stations in real time. The map provides live status updates, availability data, and grid information. This transparency has been instrumental in achieving Norway’s target of nearly 100% EV new car sales by 2025.
Denmark: Smart Planning and Grid Coordination
Denmark’s national charging infrastructure plan uses digital mapping tools to identify optimal charger locations based on traffic flows, power availability, and demand forecasts. The data is shared with municipalities and utilities, ensuring each new charger aligns with both user needs and grid capacity. This smart planning approach prevents overloading local networks while guaranteeing national coverage.
United Kingdom: Strategic Mapping for Equity
The UK government’s National EV Infrastructure Strategy (NEVIS) integrates geographic data, traffic modeling, and socio-economic indicators to guide public and private investment. The national EV map ensures that even rural areas have fair access to charging, reducing regional disparities and enabling a just transition.
Charting the Road Ahead for Oman
For Oman, a National EV Charging Map would act as both a planning instrument and a public interface. It could be led by a consortium of stakeholders — including the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), Nama Group, fuel marketing companies, and EV charging operators — under a unified national framework, same as the unified EV charging application (SHAHIN) that announced recently during the second green Mobility Summit 2025.
Such a map could also link with smart grid systems and renewable energy projects, allowing Oman to integrate solar-powered chargers, battery storage, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies in the long run. This would not only decarbonize transport but also strengthen the resilience and flexibility of the national grid.
Conclusion
Oman’s progress toward electric mobility is commendable — the foundations are in place, the market is awakening, and the ambition is clear. Yet to truly accelerate this transformation, the nation needs a cohesive, data-driven roadmap that ensures every EV user, no matter where they live or travel, has equal access to reliable charging.
A National EV Charging Map is more than a geographic tool; it is the backbone of a sustainable mobility ecosystem. With the right coordination and vision, Oman can build not just a network of chargers — but a connected, intelligent, and equitable electric future for all.
[The author, an energy leader with 25 years of experience, holds an MBA (SQU), a BSc (Griffith), and is pursuing a PhD in the Green Economy]
