UAE Accelerates Pipeline to Bypass Blockaded Hormuz Strait

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed since early March, the United Arab Emirates has reached the halfway mark on a second pipeline designed to circumvent the chokepoint. This infrastructure project, aimed at doubling export capacity through the port of Fujairah, is now slated for completion in 2027.

Editorial·August 19, 2026·reads: 2,204

UAE Accelerates Pipeline to Bypass Blockaded Hormuz Strait

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC), confirmed the progress during an Atlantic Council interview, emphasizing the urgency driven by the ongoing conflict with Iran. The blockade, initiated by Tehran following a February 28 aerial campaign by U.S. and Israeli forces, has removed over 1 billion barrels of oil from global markets. Current estimates suggest a loss of 100 million barrels for every week the passage remains shuttered.

Even if hostilities cease immediately, Al Jaber projects a slow recovery, noting that reaching 80% of pre-conflict export volumes will require at least four months. A full return to normal operations is not anticipated until early 2027. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright argued that the crisis signals a permanent shift in geopolitical strategy, noting that Gulf nations are rapidly diversifying their export routes to strip Iran of its leverage over global energy supplies. The existing Fujairah pipeline currently handles 1.8 million barrels per day, a capacity that the new infrastructure is intended to double.