Omani authorities have started the masterplanning of the second phase of Sohar Free Zone targeting an area of around 1,000 hectares, a two-fold increase over the area developed in the first phase, said a report.

The focus is on the development of the next phase of the sprawling special economic zone adjoining the industrial port on Oman's Batinah coast, reported the Oman Observer.

Since its formal launch in 2010, Sohar Free Zone has attracted around 26 projects with an investment value of $620 million, said the report, citing a senior official.

"With the majority of the sites having already been finalised or leased out, we anticipate that the first phase will be fully developed during 2015. In fact, a number of tenants have already commenced construction of their projects and these activities will continue this year," Edwin Lammers, the executive commercial manager of Sohar Port and Freezone, was quoted as saying in the report.

The masterplanning exercise will also include a feasibility study designed to ascertain the geographical direction in which the free zone is expected to grow in Phase Two, he added.