UAE announces accelerated pipeline construction to bypass Strait of Hormuz

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The UAE is accelerating the construction of a new oil pipeline aimed at doubling its export capacity through Fujairah over the next several years. This strategic move enables the UAE to enhance its ability to export oil without routing through the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for its energy market.

UAE announces accelerated pipeline construction to bypass Strait of Hormuz The United Arab Emirates will accelerate construction of a new oil pipeline to double its export capacity through Fujairah by 2027, the government's Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Friday, vastly expanding its ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed directed the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) to fast-track the West-East Pipeline project during an executive committee meeting, ADMO said, adding that the pipeline is under construction and expected to start operating in 2027. The UAE's existing Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (Adcop), also known as the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, has proved crucial as the country seeks to maximise direct exports from the Gulf of Oman coast. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the only Gulf producers with pipelines that export crude outside the Strait of Hormuz, while Oman has a long coastline on the Gulf of Oman. A tanker sits anchored in Port Sultan Qaboos as traffic is greatly reduced in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, in Muscat, Oman, 12 March 2026 (Reuters)