UAE to Accelerate 'East-West Oil Pipeline' Construction Amid Hormuz Risk
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the state-owned oil company of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has decided to accelerate the construction of a land-based oil pipeline that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
On May 15 (local time), the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office announced that Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi presided over an ADNOC board management meeting, received a progress report on the "East-West Oil Pipeline" project—which is being promoted with the aim of commencing operations in 2027—and instructed the company to expedite the project.
The UAE is working to establish an alternative oil export route using a land-based pipeline as a contingency against a potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. Currently, the UAE operates the Habshan-Fujairah Oil Pipeline, which connects the eastern oil fields to the Port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman. This pipeline serves as a critical piece of infrastructure that allows the export of crude oil without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Iran has conducted several airstrikes on the Fujairah Oil Complex in the past. The existing Habshan-Fujairah Oil Pipeline has a maximum transport capacity of 1.8 million barrels per day. Once the East-West Oil Pipeline is completed, the UAE’s overland oil transport capacity is expected to nearly double.
Prior to the Middle East war, the UAE’s crude oil exports amounted to between 2.7 million and 3 million barrels per day.
The UAE has been identified as a primary target of Iranian attacks during the ongoing conflict, due to its support for the United States and Israel. Recently, reports have even emerged that the UAE directly participated in an airstrike against Iran in coordination with Israel, further deteriorating relations between the two countries.
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Industry observers believe that, given the increased likelihood that Iran will continue to pressure UAE oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz even after the war ends, the UAE is rushing to establish alternative pipeline routes as a long-term countermeasure.
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