UAE fast-tracks pipeline project to bypass Strait of Hormuz by 2027
The United Arab Emirates is accelerating a major infrastructure project designed to allow its oil exports to entirely bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Following a directive from the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, the “West-East Pipeline” project is now being pushed for completion by 2027.
The project involves a significant expansion of the existing pipeline network that connects the Habshan oil fields to the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman. Once finished, the new infrastructure is expected to double the UAE’s current export capacity that can reach global markets without passing through the Persian Gulf’s narrowest chokepoint.
This decision comes amid a period of intense regional instability and a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. By securing an alternative route to the Indian Ocean, the UAE aims to ensure the continuity of its energy exports and protect its economy from maritime disruptions. Currently, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are the only regional producers with the capacity to export significant amounts of crude oil via land-based pipelines that bypass the strategic waterway.
