The UAE has learned its lesson — there will be no more reliance on the Strait of Hormuz

The UAE is zeroing in on maintaining zero reliance on the Strait of Hormuz — peace agreement or not. Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi told Bloomberg the UAE is working on a new harbor to sit alongside the Eastern ports of Dibba, Fujairah, and Khor Fakkan, along with new pipelines and wider rail and road networks to eliminate its dependence on the strait.

What we already know: Adnoc is fast-tracking a second pipeline to double the amount of crude via Fujairah by 2027, building on the Habshan-Fujairah line that has been the backbone of the UAE’s Hormuz bypass during the war. Borouge and AD Ports are also exploring building an alternative export hub for petrochemical shipments on the east coast, centered around Fujairah and other eastern port facilities.

What’s new: The UAE is now planning a third petroleum pipeline, Al Zeyoudi said, as well as investing in infrastructure like the new harbor and rail and road projects. The projects are still in their planning phase, with feasibility studies underway, but the main goal is “having zero Hormuz dependency,” as Al Zeyoudi puts it.