UAE fast-tracks West-East Pipeline to bypass Strait of Hormuz
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company moves to double export capacity through Fujairah amid regional supply chain disruptions and OPEC withdrawal.
The United Arab Emirates is accelerating the construction of the West-East Pipeline project, a strategic infrastructure initiative designed to double oil export capacity through the port city of Fujairah and circumvent the Strait of Hormuz. Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed announced the fast-tracking of the project during an executive meeting of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) on Friday, stating the move aims to meet global energy demands.
The government’s Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed that the new pipeline is expected to be operational by 2027. Sheikh Zayed described ADNOC as a responsible and reliable global energy producer, noting the company possesses the operational flexibility to increase production to meet market needs when export constraints allow. This announcement coincides with the UAE’s recent decision to withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), citing a need to focus on national interests and long-term strategic vision.
The acceleration of the project follows significant disruptions to global energy supply chains triggered by the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil previously passed, is currently subject to blockades and attacks on energy infrastructure. Iran has also introduced a new maritime protocol in the waterway, further complicating trade routes for Gulf nations seeking to maintain oil and gas exports.
Currently, the UAE utilises the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP), a 380km route running from the Habshan oil and gasfield to Fujairah. Since commencing operations in 2012, the pipeline has handled a capacity of approximately 1.5 million barrels per day. However, the existing infrastructure has recently come under attack, underscoring the urgency for expanded and diversified export capabilities.
Regional peers are similarly navigating these security challenges. Saudi Arabia operates the 1,200km East-West pipeline, which exports oil from the east coast to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, a route that has been less affected by the regional conflict. While Oman benefits from a coastline outside the Strait of Hormuz, countries such as Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain remain heavily reliant on the waterway for their trade shipments.
