UAE Plans to Eliminate Dependence on Strait of Hormuz with New Energy Corridors

Rishita — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:04:16 +0530

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled a long-term strategy aimed at ending its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route that handles a significant share of the world's oil and gas exports.

The announcement comes at a time when the Strait of Hormuz is expected to reopen following a recent agreement between the United States and Iran. However, concerns over future disruptions and potential transit restrictions have prompted the UAE to accelerate efforts to establish alternative trade and energy corridors.

Speaking about the country's plans, UAE Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi said the objective is to reduce dependence on the Strait to zero through major investments in infrastructure.

Eastern Ports at the Core

Unlike several Gulf nations whose exports must pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE possesses strategically located ports on its eastern coastline outside the strait. These include Fujairah, Dibba and Khor Fakkan, which continued to facilitate energy exports during periods of regional conflict.

The UAE now plans to significantly expand these facilities and transform them into major hubs for international trade and energy shipments. Officials believe these ports can provide a secure alternative route for exports while reducing exposure to geopolitical risks in the Gulf.

New Pipelines and Rail Links

A key component of the strategy involves the construction of at least two additional oil and gas pipelines connecting production facilities to eastern ports.

The UAE already operates a pipeline that transports crude oil directly to Fujairah, allowing exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed expansion would increase capacity and strengthen the country's energy security.

Authorities are also studying the development of railway infrastructure to support the transportation of energy products and commercial cargo between inland production centers and eastern ports.

Lessons from Regional Conflict

Recent tensions in West Asia highlighted vulnerabilities in regional energy supply chains. Although the UAE managed to maintain exports through its eastern facilities, attacks on infrastructure and growing uncertainty over maritime security accelerated discussions about long-term alternatives.

Officials say the experience exposed logistical gaps and reinforced the need for diversified transport routes. As a result, infrastructure planning has become a strategic priority for the country.

Challenges Remain

Despite progress on the export side, challenges remain for imports. The UAE continues to rely heavily on Jebel Ali Port, one of the world's largest commercial ports located inside the Persian Gulf.

Shifting a substantial portion of import traffic to eastern ports would require major investments and extensive logistical restructuring. Experts note that while the strategy is achievable, it will likely take several years to implement fully.

Strategic Economic Shift

The UAE's plan reflects a broader effort to strengthen economic resilience and safeguard its role as a global trade and energy hub. By expanding alternative transportation corridors and reducing reliance on a single maritime chokepoint, the country aims to protect supply chains, attract investment and maintain stable export operations regardless of future regional developments.

The initiative is expected to play a significant role in shaping the UAE's energy and trade strategy over the coming decade.

Dubai Airport Shut, Fujairah Oil Hub Hit: Iran's Missile & Drone War Engulfs the UAE — Day 17

Nitin Trivedi — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:48:52 +0530

The War Has Come to the Gulf's Front Door

What began as a distant conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has arrived — violently and undeniably — in the heart of the world's most visited business hub. On Day 17 of the Iran war, the UAE woke up to smoke over Dubai's skyline, suspended flights, a dead Palestinian civilian on an Abu Dhabi street, and fires burning at the Fujairah oil terminal.

This is no longer a regional crisis happening somewhere else. The Iran drone missile strike on UAE infrastructure has turned the Gulf's glittering cities into active war zones — and the world is watching with growing alarm.

What Happened on March 16 — The Deadliest Day Yet for the UAE

A drone attack sparked a fire near a fuel tank in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest, forcing authorities to divert flights to Al Maktoum International Airport as a precautionary measure. Civil defence teams successfully contained the fire, and no injuries were initially reported at the airport itself.

But the damage extended far beyond the airport. A Palestinian civilian was killed in Abu Dhabi when a missile struck a civilian vehicle in the Al Bahyah area — the first confirmed civilian death in the capital from a direct missile impact. Shortly after, a fire broke out in an industrial zone in Fujairah following a drone attack, with civil defence teams working to bring it under control.

By the end of the day, UAE air defences had intercepted 6 ballistic missiles and 21 drones in a single 24-hour period. Since the war began on February 28, UAE forces have tracked and engaged 304 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and a staggering 1,627 drones.

Iran's Strategy: Economic Warfare, Not Just Military Strikes

Make no mistake — Iran has shifted gears. For the first time since the war erupted, Tehran directly threatened a neighbouring country's non-US assets, calling for the evacuation of three major UAE ports. This signals Iran's deliberate move from targeting US military bases to waging full-scale economic warfare against the Gulf region.

The targets tell the story. Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, residential buildings, hotels, Dubai's International Financial Centre, Jebel Ali Port, the US consulate, and even an Amazon data centre have all been hit — despite Iran's public claims that its attacks are limited to US military facilities.

The UAE's ADNOC Ruwais refinery — the largest in the Middle East, producing 922,000 barrels of oil per day — was shut down after a drone strike caused a fire, while operators in Fujairah temporarily suspended terminal activity. Global oil markets have responded with sharp price increases.

The Scale of Iran's Assault on the Entire Gulf

The UAE has borne the brunt, but it is not alone. Iran has struck major targets across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, including Kuwait International Airport, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, and Riyadh.

Qatar Airways has already suspended the majority of its flights, operating only a limited number of services between March 18 and March 28. Airspace across the region has been thrown into chaos.

The war has killed at least 1,300 people in Iran, at least 850 in Lebanon, and 12 in Israel. At least 13 US military members have been killed, including six in a plane crash in Iraq.

The International Response: Defensive, Cautious — and Too Slow?

Britain, France, and Australia have stepped up defensive operations. RAF jets continued air defence patrols over Qatar, Cyprus, the UAE, and Bahrain, while a British counter-drone unit shot down multiple Iranian drones targeting coalition bases.

Meanwhile, US President Trump called on nations including South Korea, France, China, and Britain to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has declared closed to US and allied traffic — and warned NATO allies the alliance faced a "very bad" future if they did not act.

Germany pushed back. The German Chancellor's spokesman stated that the war "has nothing to do with NATO" and is "not NATO's war."

The alliance is fractured. Iran knows it.

The Gulf Will Never Be the Same Again

The UAE built its global reputation on one promise: safety. Skyscrapers, five-star hotels, world-class airports, and a neutral diplomatic posture made Dubai and Abu Dhabi the preferred address for multinationals, expatriates, and tourists from every corner of the earth.

Several major international banks have already pulled employees from their Dubai offices. Big Tech investments in the region are being questioned after an Amazon data centre was targeted. The UAE's image as a safe, stable business hub — the bedrock of its relationship with the US and its economic rise — is under direct, sustained assault.

Iran's calculation is cynical but clear: if it cannot stop US-Israeli strikes on Tehran, it will make the entire Gulf pay an unbearable economic price. Every missile fired at a fuel tank near Dubai Airport is a message to Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and every government that hosts American troops: your prosperity is not insulated from this war.

The international community's response must match the scale of what is happening. Defensive patrols are not enough. Diplomacy has stalled. And every day without a ceasefire is another day the world's most important trade corridor inches closer to collapse.

Fujairah - Dainik Jagran English