Hyundai Motor Group and Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance green hydrogen mobility and smart city development across the Sultanate. The strategic agreement positions the automaker as a core technology partner in executing Oman’s national decarbonization framework under Vision 2040.
The agreement aligns with Oman’s broader ambition to become a global green hydrogen export hub and clean energy leader. By building local demand for green hydrogen through heavy transport and public mobility, the country is translating its large-scale hydrogen production pipeline into tangible operational infrastructure on the ground.
Launching Oman’s First Green Hydrogen Public Transit Service
A cornerstone of the partnership is a pilot program with Oman’s national public transport operator, Mwasalat, to deploy the country’s first hydrogen-powered city bus.
Rather than functioning as a static technology display, Hyundai’s 24-seat ELEC CITY Fuel Cell bus will operate as an active public transit service on designated routes across the capital city of Muscat. Scheduled to run from the third quarter of 2026 through the third quarter of 2027, the passenger transport initiative will serve as a real-world testbed for hydrogen fleet performance in the Middle East’s high-temperature climate.
Throughout the year-long deployment, Mwasalat and Hyundai will evaluate fuel efficiency, system reliability under extreme heat, and total lifecycle carbon reductions compared to diesel buses. The operational metrics established during the trial will inform potential fleet expansions and broader commercial vehicle procurement across Oman.
Expanding Infrastructure to Support a Dual-Track Energy Transition
Complementing the fuel cell deployment, the agreement establishes a parallel effort to build high-capacity electric charging infrastructure. In collaboration with Oman Oil Marketing Company and its EV charging brand EVO, Hyundai Kefico will supply a 240kW ultra-fast DC charger at a service station in Halban, near Muscat.
The charger installation will undergo intensive environmental and load testing during the second half of 2026, evaluating thermal management and grid interaction during extreme summer heat conditions.
By simultaneously deploying hydrogen fuel cell public transit and high-power electric vehicle infrastructure, the joint initiative creates a balanced blueprint for zero-emission transport across heavy-duty, municipal, and private automotive sectors.
Driving National Decarbonization and Smart City Integration
The partnership between Hyundai Motor Group and Omani state entities provides a direct local consumption mechanism for green hydrogen as domestic production sites expand. Integrating hydrogen mobility into flagship urban projects like Sultan Haitham City reinforces Oman’s national strategy to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels while achieving net-zero emissions.
Following the initial pilot phases, the participating organizations will use performance data to determine the long-term integration of fuel cell transport across additional commercial transit corridors, establishing a replicable framework for zero-emission mobility throughout the Gulf region.