Gulf states seek alternative oil routes to bypass Strait of Hormuz

Gulf states are increasingly seeking alternative maritime routes to bypass the Strait of Hormuz due to tensions between the United States and Iran. Saudi Arabia has utilized its East-West Pipeline to transport crude to the Red Sea, allowing it to avoid the Persian Gulf. According to IMF PortWatch data, Saudi cargo shipments from its Gulf coast dropped significantly in April and May, while Red Sea exports rose by 25.2 million tons, compensating for approximately 61 percent of the volume lost in the Persian Gulf zone.

The United Arab Emirates is also exploring increasing capacity for its Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP), which transports oil to Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman. However, the proximity of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan to Iran poses risks of drone and missile attacks.

To evade potential attacks from Houthi militants in Yemen, Saudi oil tankers have increasingly engaged in “dark voyages,” disabling tracking signals to remain invisible to global monitoring systems. This practice has made it difficult for organizations like OPEC and the International Energy Agency to accurately assess global oil supply. Recent shipments from the port of Yanbu have reportedly been conducted without transmitting publicly accessible location data.