The United Arab Emirates is moving ahead with plans to complete a second oil pipeline connecting the emirate of Fujairah to the country’s inland energy network by 2027, a project designed to strengthen export security and reduce reliance on the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz.
The new pipeline, known as the West-East Pipeline project, is being accelerated under directives from Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
According to reports, the pipeline is already under construction and is expected to double the UAE’s oil export capacity through Fujairah, located on the Gulf of Oman outside the Strait of Hormuz.
The move reflects growing concern among Gulf energy producers over the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping chokepoints. Roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a major risk to international energy markets.
The UAE already operates the Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline, also known as the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP), which began operations in 2012 and can transport up to 1.8 million barrels of crude per day directly to Fujairah.
The new project is expected to significantly expand that capacity and provide additional flexibility in case of shipping disruptions or regional conflict.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has not publicly disclosed the total investment value of the project, but analysts say the expansion forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen the UAE’s position as a stable and reliable energy supplier.
Fujairah has increasingly emerged as a critical global oil storage, bunkering, and export hub because of its location outside the Persian Gulf.
The acceleration of the pipeline project also comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region. Recent attacks and disruptions linked to the wider conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel have renewed concerns over energy security and shipping routes in the Gulf.
Oil loading operations at Fujairah have faced intermittent disruptions in recent months following reported drone strikes and maritime threats.
Energy analysts say the additional pipeline capacity could provide reassurance to major Asian importers including India, China, Japan, and South Korea, all of which depend heavily on Gulf crude supplies.
By reducing dependence on Hormuz, the UAE hopes to shield exports from regional instability while reinforcing Fujairah’s role as a long-term strategic energy hub.
Officials said the project remains on track for completion and commissioning in 2027.