UAE to Double Oil Export Capacity Bypassing Strait of Hormuz by 2027
ADNOC accelerates the West-East 1 pipeline to Fujairah, a strategic move to bypass the Hormuz chokepoint. Ordered by Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled, the project will double the UAE’s bypass capacity to safeguard oil exports and regional energy security.
The United Arab Emirates is accelerating construction of a major new oil pipeline that will significantly boost its ability to export crude without relying on the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported today.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) is fast-tracking the West-East 1 pipeline project, which will run from Abu Dhabi’s western oil fields and storage facilities (including Jebel Dhanna) to the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman. Once completed, the new line is expected to double the UAE’s Hormuz-bypass export capacity from the current 1.5 million barrels per day (via the existing Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline - ADCOP) to approximately 3 million barrels per day.
The project is being pushed forward on the direct orders of Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is now slated for completion and startup in 2027.
The move comes amid heightened regional tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. By expanding export routes to Fujairah on the open Arabian Sea, the UAE aims to enhance energy security, reduce vulnerability to potential blockades or attacks, and support its ambitious goal of reaching 5 million barrels per day in total production capacity.
This development builds on the existing Habshan–Fujairah (ADCOP) pipeline, which already provides a bypass route but has limited throughput. The new parallel pipeline will further position Fujairah as a key global oil export and bunkering hub.