Sheikh Khaled ordered ADNOC to fast-track the West-East Pipeline, now under construction, so it can start by 2027 and sharply expand crude exports from Fujairah.
The move is aimed at bypassing the Strait of Hormuz after Iran effectively shut the waterway following the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli attacks, disrupting about a fifth of global oil supplies and lifting energy prices.
The UAE's existing Habshan-Fujairah line carries up to 1.8 million barrels a day; only the UAE and Saudi Arabia currently have Gulf crude pipelines that avoid the strait.
The project also strengthens the UAE's hand after it quit OPEC two weeks ago: ADNOC is targeting 5 million bpd of capacity by next year, while output had more than halved after the Hormuz disruption.
Can a new pipeline truly insulate the global economy from the chaos in the Strait of Hormuz?
As the UAE charts its own course, is a new cold war brewing between former Gulf allies?
Global Energy Crisis 2026: The 69-Day Strait of Hormuz Blockade and Its Far-Reaching Impacts
Overview
In early 2026, a conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran led to the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, starting March 4. This critical chokepoint for global energy saw commercial shipping grind to a halt, leaving the strait shut for over 69 days by May. The result was an unprecedented global energy crisis, with about 20% of the world’s oil supply and significant LNG exports disrupted. The International Energy Agency called it the most significant oil market disruption in history, highlighting the severe impact on global energy security and the urgent need for alternative export routes.