MUAR, Malaysia | November 29, 2025 — Maharani Freeport, Malaysia’s first duty-exempted energy freeport, was officially inaugurated on November 29, 2025, by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia. Developed by Maharani Energy Gateway Sdn. Bhd. (MEG), the new deepwater facility is set to become a critical, one-stop energy and maritime services hub along the strategically important Strait of Malacca—directly positioning itself among the major regional bunkering and trading centres.
Recognised as a National Project, Maharani Freeport is a fully private-sector initiative located within the Muar Port limits. It is expected to attract an estimated RM144 billion in global investment and create at least 45,000 direct and indirect high-value jobs, strengthening Johor’s role as a key driver of Malaysia’s economic future.
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Strategic Advantage: Location, Depth, and Fiscal Incentives
The strategic appeal of Maharani Freeport stems from its location, deepwater capacity and an exceptionally competitive fiscal structure.
The Freeport sits on a natural 24-metre water depth, allowing the berthing of Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and other major O&G vessels without dredging—an increasingly rare advantage along the Strait of Malacca. This positions the Freeport as a secure and cost-efficient alternative for global shipping lines navigating the world’s busiest oil shipping route.
During the inauguration, Dato’ Dr. Daing A. Malek Bin Daing A. Rahaman, Executive Chairman of MEG, emphasised that Maharani Freeport is already operational, stating:
“Maharani Freeport is not just an aspiration or a vision for the future. It is already doing business, conducting oil trading, storage, transhipment, blending and mixing, and facilitating other services such as bunkering, marine, deep seaport, floating storage unit, and ship-to-ship transfer for our customers and partners.”
He also highlighted the transformative impact for Johor and Malaysia:
“Maharani Freeport is a bold and transformative project. Our goal is to raise living standards, create new opportunities and anchor Johor as a driver of Malaysia’s economic future. It is expected to generate hundreds of new high-value companies, and at least 45,000 jobs while uplifting local businesses in logistics, ship repair, construction and services.”
The Freeport’s tax incentives are among the most competitive in Asia. Companies registered within the Freeport enjoy zero corporate tax for general activities, while oil trading entities benefit from an exceptionally low 3% corporate tax rate, making the Freeport an attractive base for global trading houses seeking long-term operations.
Integrated Masterplan: A World-Class Ecosystem
Spanning 3,200 acres across three reclaimed islands, the Maharani Freeport masterplan integrates an energy hub, deep seaport, industrial park and financial hub into a single, self-sustaining ecosystem.
The Maharani Energy Hub houses storage, blending and trading facilities that support the global oil supply chain. Adjacent to it, the Maharani Deep Seaport provides large vessel handling capabilities, bunkering services, STS operations and marine support. Surrounding these core elements, the Maharani Freeport Industrial Park is planned to host petrochemical complexes, renewable energy production and a wide range of downstream industries, while the Maharani Freeport Financial Hub will support sophisticated energy trade financing, commodity settlement and digital trading platforms.
Future development will incorporate AI- and blockchain-powered systems to enhance transparency, efficiency and data-driven decision-making across vessel movement, commodity flows and logistics. The inclusion of shipbuilding and repair yards reinforces the Freeport’s ambition to become a fully integrated maritime centre.
During the ceremony, Dato’ Dr. Daing expressed deep appreciation for the national leadership that enabled the project to materialise:
“Where others see challenges, His Majesty sees opportunity. His wisdom and foresight made it possible for Maharani Freeport to take root in Muar. Maharani Freeport represents the best of what Malaysia can achieve when vision meets determination and collaboration meets purpose. With the support of all, Maharani Freeport will become a global energy port shaping tomorrow’s innovation.”
Global Implications for Bunkering and Oil Trading
By establishing itself along the world’s most critical oil passageway, Maharani Freeport introduces a major new competitor into the regional bunkering and oil trading landscape. Its deepwater capabilities allow Malaysia to capture VLCC calls, long-term storage demand and high-volume transhipment—three pillars that naturally drive bunkering throughput.
Coupled with its operational readiness, fiscal incentives and expanding industrial base, the Freeport is expected to shift trading patterns along the strait and strengthen Malaysia’s standing in the global maritime economy.
Federal and State Government support reflects Malaysia’s broader ambition to position Johor as a central pillar of the national economy and to establish the country as a leader in the next generation of energy port innovation.
About Maharni Energy Gateway
Maharani Energy Gateway (MEG) is a privately owned Malaysian master developer and the force behind Maharani Freeport. Specialising in ports, marine services and O&G trading, MEG’s capabilities span deep-water seaport development, STS operations, bunkering, renewable energy and energy data centres, supporting regional growth while expanding its global footprint through strategic partnerships.
About Maharani Freeport
Maharani Freeport is Malaysia’s first duty-exempted energy freeport, developed by Maharani Energy Gateway (MEG) to anchor the nation as a global hub for energy and maritime services. Spanning 3,200 acres across three reclaimed islands, the Maharani Freeport integrates an energy hub, deep seaport, industrial park and financial hub, offering world-class infrastructure, natural deep-water access and competitive incentives to attract global investment and drive long-term economic growth.
Source: Maharani Port