The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is constructing a new west-east oil pipeline to bypass the Strait of Hormuz by 2027 [1].
The project aims to protect the United Arab Emirates' crude exports from regional instability. With the Strait of Hormuz currently blocked, the UAE is accelerating infrastructure to ensure energy shipments can reach global markets without relying on the volatile waterway.
ADNOC, the state oil company of the UAE, is fast-tracking the pipeline to deliver crude to the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman [2]. This new infrastructure is expected to double the current UAE oil export capacity via Fujairah [3].
The move comes as the region faces significant maritime disruptions. The current blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has lasted approximately 11 weeks [4]. This waterway is one of the most critical chokepoints in the global energy supply chain, a fact highlighted by the scale of the current crisis.
Before the current conflict involving Iran, roughly 20% of the world's oil and seaborne gas transited through the Strait of Hormuz [4]. The reliance on this single passage created a vulnerability that the UAE is now attempting to mitigate through land-based transport.
By moving oil across the mainland to the east coast, the UAE reduces its dependency on the narrow strait. The pipeline will allow the country to maintain its status as a reliable energy supplier even if the blockade persists or expands into a long-term closure [2].
“The new pipeline will double UAE oil export capacity via Fujairah”
This strategic shift indicates that the UAE no longer views the Strait of Hormuz as a reliable transit point for its energy exports. By doubling its capacity via Fujairah, the UAE is effectively decoupling its economic stability from the geopolitical volatility of the Persian Gulf, creating a permanent hedge against future maritime blockades in the region.
