UAE Ports and Pipelines Expand to Bypass Strait of Hormuz

DP World announced a deal to build two new container terminals in Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, boosting its capacity by about 13 percent and reducing reliance on the Jebel Ali port, which has seen activity fall amid the Iran‑U.S. conflict. At the same time, Gulftainer launched the Sajaa bonded dry‑port service to further diversify freight handling in the Emirate.

The United Arab Emirates is also constructing a pipeline to the Port of Fujairah that could double its oil‑export capacity without transiting the Hormuz Strait. Saudi Arabia is reviewing an expansion of its East‑West pipeline, and Iraq and Syria have signed an agreement to restore a dormant Kirkuk‑to‑Mediterranean pipeline, adding another route that avoids Hormuz. These infrastructure projects reflect a regional push to mitigate the security risks and shipping disruptions caused by renewed attacks on vessels and blockades in the Hormuz corridor.

Collectively, the new ports and alternative pipelines aim to protect trade flows and oil supplies, supporting the Gulf economies’ resilience while reshaping export routes that traditionally depended on the narrow waterway.