The United Arab Emirates is accelerating construction of a new oil pipeline designed to double export capacity through the eastern port of Fujairah by 2027, strengthening its ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened regional tensions.
The move was directed by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed during an executive committee meeting, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office on Friday, with the project expected to begin operations next year.
The pipeline expansion comes as Iran has widened its claimed operational control over waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of war earlier this year, raising risks for Gulf energy exports and global supply chains.
Recent attacks on Fujairah’s oil infrastructure, including a drone strike on an ADNOC tanker, have intensified concerns over the vulnerability of the UAE’s export routes, prompting efforts to strengthen alternative channels outside the strait.
The existing Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline currently transports up to 1.8 million barrels per day to Fujairah, while the new project is expected to significantly increase volumes shipped through the Gulf of Oman.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia remain the only Gulf producers with major pipeline infrastructure capable of exporting crude outside Hormuz, while several neighbouring states depend heavily on the waterway.
The expansion also follows the UAE’s recent exit from OPEC, removing output quotas and giving Abu Dhabi greater flexibility to increase production capacity as market disruptions persist.
ADNOC aims to raise production capacity to 5 million barrels per day by next year, while UAE oil output dropped sharply after Hormuz disruptions forced production cuts earlier this year.
Fujairah and nearby Khor Fakkan have become critical trade hubs for both energy exports and essential imports, despite repeated security threats linked to the regional conflict.
The accelerated pipeline project highlights the UAE’s strategy to secure energy exports, reduce dependence on one of the world’s busiest oil chokepoints, and protect economic stability during prolonged geopolitical uncertainty.