Muscat – Oman is set to introduce its first hydrogen-powered city bus on public transport routes in Muscat under a new partnership with Hyundai Motor Group that also covers smart-city development and ultra-fast electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Hyundai Motor Group signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) at the Gulf Green Mobility Forum last week as part of cooperation on sustainable mobility and smart cities under Oman Vision 2040. The agreement has an initial one-year term and is subject to automatic renewal.

Under a separate pilot agreement, national transport operator Mwasalat will deploy Hyundai’s 24-seat ELEC CITY Fuel Cell bus on regular public transport routes in Muscat.

The pilot, scheduled to run from the third quarter of 2026 until the third quarter of 2027, will assess the hydrogen bus under actual passenger service rather than as a short-term technology demonstration.

Mwasalat will evaluate its reliability in local driving conditions, operational efficiency on daily routes and environmental performance compared with conventional diesel buses.

“We are delighted to establish strategic partnerships with MTCIT 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.

The wider partnership also includes electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO) and its EV charging brand EVO have signed agreements with Hyundai Motor Group and Hyundai Kefico to install and operate a 240kW DC ultra-fast charger at an Oman Oil service station in Halban.

The charger will undergo testing during the third and fourth quarters of this year, including trials under Oman’s high summer temperatures. The partners will assess charging performance, demand and commercial viability before deciding on possible expansion.

The MTCIT agreement also establishes a framework for cooperation in smart-city development and environmentally friendly mobility, including electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

Hyundai said results from the hydrogen bus and EV charger pilots would be measured against agreed key performance indicators. Depending on their performance, the company and its Omani partners will explore expanding the services and moving towards procurement on a wider scale across Oman.