The United Arab Emirates UAE is speeding up construction of a second West-East oil pipeline to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a critical but volatile shipping route. The project comes as global oil supplies tighten and flows through the Hormuz narrow strait remain severely limited due to geopolitical tensions and infrastructure constraints.

Why the UAE is prioritizing the new pipeline

The UAE’s first West-East pipeline, completed in 2009, already carries oil from fields in Abu Dhabi to the Gulf of Oman, avoiding the Hormuz Strait. The second pipeline, now in development, will expand capacity and further reduce reliance on the strait, which handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Regional instability has repeatedly threatened shipping through Hormuz, including attacks on tankers and threats to close the strait. In 2019, drone and missile strikes on Saudi oil facilities disrupted global supply chains. More recently, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have forced rerouting of vessels, raising freight costs and delaying deliveries.

Impact on global energy markets

By bypassing Hormuz, the UAE can maintain stable oil exports even if the strait faces disruptions. This move supports both domestic energy security and international supply stability amid rising demand and volatile prices. The UAE is one of the world’s top oil exporters, shipping about 3.5 million barrels per day through Hormuz.

Oil market analysts say the pipeline will give the UAE leverage in pricing and export decisions. It also reduces exposure to geopolitical risks that could spike global energy prices. The project aligns with Abu Dhabi’s long-term strategy to diversify export routes and reduce dependence on Hormuz.

Technical and logistical details

The second West-East pipeline will run parallel to the first, stretching approximately 400 kilometers from Abu Dhabi’s Habshan fields to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman. The first pipeline has a capacity of 1.5 million barrels per day, and the second is expected to match or exceed that volume.

Fujairah, outside the Hormuz perimeter, serves as a key oil export hub with deep-water ports and limited exposure to regional conflicts. The UAE has invested heavily in Fujairah’s infrastructure to support energy transit and storage.

Broader implications for energy security

The UAE’s pipeline strategy reflects a global trend among oil exporters to diversify export routes and reduce reliance on vulnerable chokepoints. Other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iraq, have explored similar bypass routes, though none have been fully implemented at scale.

With global oil demand projected to rise through 2030 and geopolitical risks persisting in the Middle East, secure export routes are becoming a strategic priority. The UAE’s accelerated pipeline project underscores the urgency of infrastructure resilience in energy security planning.

Analysts expect the pipeline to begin partial operations within two years, with full capacity reached by 2027. The project is part of the UAE’s broader energy diversification efforts, including increased investment in renewable energy and liquefied natural gas LNG.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: CNBC
  • Published: May 15, 2026 at 09:19 UTC
  • Category: Business
  • Topics: #cnbc · #finance · #economy · #west · #east · #strait

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 15, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Os Emirados Árabes Unidos acabam de dar um passo estratégico para garantir sua independência energética e influenciar os mercados globais: a construção de uma segunda tubulação para escoamento de petróleo, contornando o Estreito de Ormuz, a principal rota marítima do mundo para o comércio de óleo bruto. A decisão, anunciada em meio a tensões geopolíticas e à crescente demanda global por energia, reforça a posição do país como um ator-chave no setor.

O projeto, que já tem uma via operando desde 2012, ganha nova dimensão em um cenário onde o Estreito de Ormuz — por onde passa cerca de 20% do petróleo global — vive sob ameaças de bloqueios e instabilidades. Para o Brasil, que depende de importações de energia e é um exportador de petróleo, a movimentação dos EAU reforça a necessidade de diversificar rotas logísticas e reduzir riscos em cadeias globais. Além disso, a estratégia dos Emirados pode pressionar os preços do óleo no mercado internacional, afetando diretamente a Petrobras e outros players brasileiros.

O próximo passo será monitorar como essa infraestrutura impactará os fluxos comerciais e se outros países seguirão o mesmo caminho para evitar depender de rotas vulneráveis.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

El emirato árabe de Abu Dabi apuesta por blindar su capacidad exportadora con una segunda ruta petrolera que esquiva el estratégico Estrecho de Ormuz, puerta de salida de un tercio del crudo mundial. La infraestructura duplicará la capacidad actual del oleoducto existente, permitiendo transportar hasta 1,5 millones de barriles diarios desde los yacimientos del golfo Pérsico hasta puertos del océano Índico.

Este movimiento responde a la creciente inestabilidad en la región, donde tensiones geopolíticas —como el conflicto en Yemen o las sanciones a Irán— amenazan la seguridad de las rutas marítimas. Para España y Europa, dependientes en un 90% de importaciones de hidrocarburos, la medida reduce el riesgo de cortes en el suministro, aunque también refuerza la posición dominante de los países del Golfo en el mercado energético global. Además, alivia la presión sobre el Estrecho de Ormuz, clave para el tráfico marítimo pero vulnerable a bloqueos o ataques, como los registrados en 2019.