The United Arab Emirates has announced the fast-tracking of a previously undisclosed oil pipeline project designed to secure future crude exports by bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. This initiative seeks to reduce reliance on the critical shipping chokepoint, the closure of which during the Iran war has upended global markets and caused energy prices to soar worldwide.
The current blockade of the vital waterway has approached the 11-week mark, throttling Gulf economies. Before the conflict, 20% of oil and seaborne gas flowed through the strait, and flows currently remain severely limited, leaving global energy supplies under significant pressure.
The project is expected to double the nation's export capacity bypassing the strait. While the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline can carry up to 1.8 million barrels per day, the new West-East Pipeline is expected to become operational in 2027.