ABU DHABI, — May 15, 2026 : The United Arab Emirates is accelerating construction of a major crude oil pipeline project linking Abu Dhabi’s onshore oil fields to the Port of Fujairah, as the country moves to strengthen export routes outside the Strait of Hormuz and expand national production capacity by 2027.
The project, known as the West-East Pipeline expansion, is being fast-tracked under directives issued by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The new pipeline will run from the Habshan oil fields in Abu Dhabi to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, creating additional export capacity that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE currently operates the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP), also known as the Habshan–Fujairah pipeline, which was commissioned in 2012. The pipeline stretches approximately 360 to 406 kilometres and currently transports between 1.5 million and 1.8 million barrels of crude oil per day. During the ongoing regional conflict, the route has remained one of the UAE’s most important export channels as shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz faced major disruption.
Upon completion of the new pipeline in 2027, the UAE’s combined transport capacity to Fujairah is expected to increase to approximately 3.3 million barrels per day. When combined with Fujairah’s storage terminals and loading infrastructure, total export capability from the port could reach nearly 4 million barrels per day.
Fujairah has become a major international energy hub due to its strategic position on the Gulf of Oman outside the Strait of Hormuz. The emirate is currently regarded as the world’s third-largest storage hub for crude oil and refined petroleum products. UAE officials view the pipeline expansion as a critical component of the country’s long-term strategy to maintain reliable exports during periods of regional instability.
The infrastructure expansion follows a major shift in the UAE’s energy policy after the country formally exited the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ alliance on May 1, 2026. UAE officials said the decision followed a comprehensive review of national energy priorities and was intended to provide greater flexibility in production planning and export operations.
Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei recently confirmed that the UAE is pursuing a target of increasing national crude production capacity to 5 million barrels per day by 2027. Officials stated that the Fujairah expansion will support higher output levels and help address growing global demand amid continuing wartime supply disruptions.
The accelerated construction effort also reflects rising security concerns across the Gulf region. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies normally transit, has experienced severe disruption following Iranian military actions linked to the broader regional conflict earlier this year.
While the underground pipeline system itself has not been directly targeted, associated energy infrastructure has sustained damage from Iranian missile and drone attacks. Facilities affected include sections of the Habshan natural gas processing complex and oil storage infrastructure near the Port of Fujairah.
The disruption to Gulf shipping routes has contributed to higher global energy prices and fuel supply pressures in multiple countries. Market analysts said the UAE’s expanding bypass infrastructure could play an increasingly important role in improving supply resilience and reducing the impact of future disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
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