Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., the state-owned energy firm of the United Arab Emirates, is considering construction of a third pipeline designed to transport crude from the UAE’s western coast to Fujairah on its eastern coast, Bloomberg reported. The proposed pipeline would supply Asian customers while circumventing the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically significant maritime passage.
ADNOC has disclosed information about the pipeline to certain Asian customers, though plans remain preliminary and subject to potential modifications, including possible route adjustments, according to sources familiar with the matter. An ADNOC spokesperson disputed the accuracy of the reporting, characterizing the account as speculative.
The UAE currently operates one existing pipeline that has functioned since 2012, running 252 miles from Habshan in Abu Dhabi to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman with a capacity of 1.5 million barrels daily, expandable to 1.8 million. Earlier this year, the country announced the West-East Pipeline project, anticipated to commence operations in 2027 and substantially increase export capacity through Fujairah.
Fujairah’s location outside the Hormuz chokepoint enables tankers to load crude without transiting through the Persian Gulf. Beyond the UAE, regional developments include Saudi Arabia and other U.S.-allied Gulf states pursuing expanded pipeline infrastructure around Hormuz to reduce dependence on the passage, while Kuwait has proposed additional pipeline initiatives. These cumulative projects could potentially diminish Iran’s strategic influence over regional oil flows.
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