UAE Considers Third Oil Export Pipeline Bypassing Strait of Hormuz via Fujairah

The United Arab Emirates is weighing the construction of a third crude oil export pipeline designed to route oil outside the Strait of Hormuz, as Abu Dhabi seeks to sharply reduce its dependence on the strategically vulnerable waterway. Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. is evaluating a route that would run from the UAE's western coast to the port of Fujairah on the eastern coast, and the pipeline could be opened to third-party shippers.

The planned conduit would complement an existing pipeline and a second one already under construction that is scheduled to come online next year, together significantly expanding the UAE's ability to supply customers in the event of a disruption at Hormuz. A roughly 50% completion rate had already been reported on the second pipeline, meaning the third would add a further layer of redundancy beyond capacity set to nearly double by 2027.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints, and any closure or blockage there would threaten global energy supply. By building out alternative export infrastructure, ADNOC aims to insulate UAE crude flows from geopolitical risk in the Persian Gulf.