The UAE’s new crude oil pipeline designed to bypass the vulnerable Strait of Hormuz is already 50% complete, according to ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber. The project—publicly acknowledged for the first time last week—aims to double the UAE’s export capacity via Fujairah by 2027, reducing reliance on one of the world’s most critical and politically sensitive energy chokepoints.
The accelerated construction comes as Iran has restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz since U.S.-Israeli strikes in February, driving up global energy prices and inflation. Abu Dhabi’s leadership has ordered ADNOC to fast‑track the West‑East Pipeline to ensure uninterrupted oil flows.
The UAE already operates the Habshan–Fujairah pipeline (ADCOP), which can transport up to 1.8 million barrels per day, but the new pipeline will significantly expand export flexibility.
Al Jaber also confirmed that some ADNOC facilities have been directly targeted and damaged, with repairs expected to take weeks to months before full operational capacity is restored.
With information from Reuters
