The project will help move more oil exports through Fujairah by 2027
The UAE is accelerating construction of a strategic oil export route designed to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE’s major west-east oil pipeline project aimed at bypassing the Strait of Hormuz is now almost halfway complete, according to ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
Speaking during a live-streamed event hosted by the Atlantic Council, Al Jaber said the country is accelerating construction work as part of broader efforts to strengthen long-term energy export security amid rising regional tensions.
“Today, it’s already almost 50% complete, and we are accelerating its delivery toward 2027,” Al Jaber said.
UAE Expands Export Routes Beyond Hormuz
The new pipeline forms part of the UAE’s long-term strategy to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically sensitive oil transit chokepoints.
“Too much of the world’s energy still moves through too few choke points,” Al Jaber said. “That is exactly why the UAE made the decision more than a decade ago to invest in infrastructure that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.”
Over the past decade, the UAE has significantly expanded export infrastructure around Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman coast, allowing crude shipments to avoid the narrow Hormuz waterway entirely.
Once completed, the new pipeline is expected to substantially increase ADNOC’s export flexibility while strengthening Fujairah’s role as a global energy hub.
Fujairah Capacity Expected to Double
The project received renewed momentum last week after Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan directed ADNOC to fast-track development during a meeting of the executive committee of the ADNOC board.
Officials expect the new west-east pipeline to double ADNOC’s export capacity through Fujairah after operations begin in 2027.
Currently, the existing Habshan-Fujairah Pipeline, also known as the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, can transport approximately 1.8 million barrels per day. That route has become increasingly important during periods of geopolitical instability in the Gulf region.
The expansion reflects growing concern among energy producers about safeguarding supply chains and maintaining uninterrupted crude exports during regional conflicts.
ADNOC Still Assessing Conflict Damage
Al Jaber also addressed the impact of the recent regional conflict on ADNOC operations, confirming that some company facilities and infrastructure had been directly affected.
According to him, ADNOC continues to assess both the financial cost and operational impact of the damage.
He explained that restoring some affected facilities could require weeks or months, depending on the extent of repairs needed, while a full return to pre-conflict export flows may take at least four months.
The comments underscore how regional instability continues influencing global energy infrastructure planning, particularly around critical maritime corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber during a live-streamed event hosted by the Atlantic Council.
@SultanAlJaber/X.com
Source: Gulf News
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