Oman to launch hydrogen-powered city bus in Muscat Published: 04:09 PM,Sep 04,2026 | EDITED : 12:09 PM,Sep 05,2026 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 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