Oman's Green Commute: Integrating E-Scooters & E-Bikes for Sustainable First and Last Mile Mobility

Discover Oman’s “First and Last Mile” Sustainable Mobility Initiative, a program launched by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) in 2025 to revolutionize urban transport. The initiative aims to bridge the connectivity gap between public transit and final destinations by deploying shared electric scooters (e-scooters) and e-bikes, provided by the Omani startup Salik (SLC). These vehicles are dockless and are located and unlocked using a smartphone application, reflecting a "smart mobility" approach.

This project directly supports Oman Vision 2040 by reducing dependence on private cars, cutting traffic congestion, and minimizing carbon emissions, thereby working toward a low-carbon transport system. A crucial objective is to improve public transit ridership (especially among students) by providing a convenient way to cover the short distance between bus stops and buildings.

The initiative built upon a successful 6-month trial of Salik’s e-scooters at Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) in 2024. Following this, the program integrated micromobility vehicles with public transit routes at university campuses in Muscat and Salalah in 2025, partnering with Mwasalat (the public bus company) and institutions like the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS). To further boost adoption, Oman launched a parallel initiative offering 100% free bus passes for all university students in these cities, eliminating cost barriers and making the door-to-door public transport experience highly attractive.

Beyond sustainability, the program also addresses Oman’s economic diversification goals by fostering homegrown solutions in smart mobility through the involvement of local tech firm Salik and using MTCIT’s regulatory sandbox. Based on initial positive outcomes and strong student adoption, there are plans to expand this integrated model to other universities, busy urban districts, and future transport infrastructure, such as the new public transport station planned for North Al Batinah. This stepping stone signals Oman’s commitment to a sustainable, innovation-driven future.