UAE Building Alternative Export Routes Amid Iran Conflict, Official Says

The United Arab Emirates is actively building alternative routes for its energy exports to bypass disruptions from the ongoing conflict with Iran, a senior official announced Monday. UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the measures are intended to ensure the nation's economic activity is not "held hostage" by the war.

Strategic Diversification

Speaking at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, Gargash stated that the UAE is expanding its infrastructure to create new corridors for trade. These efforts include increasing port capacity along its eastern coast and developing new pipelines and railways, according to Reuters.

The move comes after Iran attacked the country's oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and launched missile strikes, significantly impacting Gulf Arab states. Iran's subsequent closure of the strait, a critical chokepoint that once handled a fifth of global energy supplies, has sent energy prices soaring and contributed to a global economic crisis.

Regional Security Concerns

The conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in the region's reliance on external security partners. Gargash noted that while the UAE's alliance with the United States is essential, the six-month conflict has underscored the importance of national capabilities. "When we depend entirely on others, we cannot always assume it will be their priority," he said.

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Echoing these concerns at the forum, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, argued that Gulf states must pursue security self-sufficiency. "Having a strategic alliance with the U.S. is very important but is not enough," al-Ansari stated. Gargash also criticized the Gulf Arab states for failing to create a unified strategy in response to Iran.

Hormuz Remains Central Obstacle

The status of the Strait of Hormuz remains a major sticking point in peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Iran claims the waterway belongs to it and Oman, a position broadly rejected by other Gulf states. Gargash asserted that the principle of free navigation is non-negotiable.

"Freedom of navigation is not a concession to be granted, nor a principle to be renegotiated under pressure," Gargash said. He added that any long-term resolution must include credible guarantees against further Iranian attacks on its neighbors. The conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, remains deadlocked after a preliminary ceasefire in June unraveled.