United Arab Emirates' "West-East Pipeline Project"

This project is part of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) policy to expand alternative energy export routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. The project, led by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), aims to continue oil exports via the Oman Gulf, avoiding the Strait of Hormuz.

According to a statement from the Abu Dhabi Media Office, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, chaired a meeting of ADNOC’s board of directors and received updates on the company’s efforts to enhance energy supply security. The statement indicated that instructions have been given to accelerate the new West-East Pipeline Project, which aims to double ADNOC’s oil export capacity through Fujairah.

The pipeline currently under construction is scheduled to become operational in 2027. Its acceleration is assessed as a response to global uncertainties in energy markets and security risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

The existing Habshan–Fujairah Pipeline, part of the UAE’s energy infrastructure, enables oil exports via the Fujairah Port on the Oman Gulf, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline begins at the Habshan onshore facilities in Abu Dhabi and terminates at Fujairah Port.

The pipeline has a capacity of 1.5 to 1.8 million barrels per day, though its available capacity is estimated at approximately 700,000 barrels per day. According to Reuters, the current pipeline is critical for the UAE’s export capacity outside the Strait of Hormuz.

The text states that following the war that began on 28 February between Iran and the US/Israel, Iran closed transit through the Strait of Hormuz. This development led to oil price increases of up to 65 percent compared to pre-war levels.

It was reported that US President Donald Trump issued a decision on 13 April to impose a naval blockade on Iran, with interventions against vessels linked to Iran beginning. Iran, for its part, has intermittently restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz and imposed conditions requiring coordination with the Iranian navy. Additionally, the US has intervened against certain Iranian-linked commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, while Iran has seized vessels linked to Israel.

According to Reuters, the only Gulf countries with pipeline infrastructure enabling oil exports outside the Strait of Hormuz are the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It was reported that Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, which connects to the Red Sea, has increased its capacity during the conflict.

Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq are described as heavily dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for oil shipments. Therefore, alternative pipeline projects are assessed as strategically important for Gulf energy security.

The text further notes that the UAE recently withdrew from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), thereby exiting production quota restrictions. ADNOC’s goals to expand production capacity are highlighted, with a target of reaching 5 million barrels per day.

According to the Reuters report, after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, UAE oil production fell by more than half, while Fujairah Port has become a critical hub for both energy and commercial transportation.