UAE prepares new export route to avoid Hormuz dependence

The United Arab Emirates is preparing a major overhaul of its ports and energy network to cut its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz to zero. Bloomberg reported that Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi said the strategy was accelerated after a closure of Hormuz exposed the vulnerability of Gulf trade and energy flows amid the conflict between Iran and the U.S. and Israel. The plan calls for expanding the ports of Dibba, Fujairah and Khor Fakkan on the Gulf of Oman coast, building at least one new port, and adding pipelines, rail lines and roads to oil and gas fields. The UAE already uses a pipeline with capacity of 1.5 million barrels per day to Fujairah and said in mid-May it would speed up a second pipeline to double crude export capacity in 2027.