UAE plans to build new ports, oil hubs in Gulf of Oman to bypass Strait of Hormuz closure - report
According to a report by FT, the new port would be built in the city of Fujairah, which already has a harbor but lacks the necessary infrastructure to serve as a major export hub
Assessment
The UAE is moving to reduce its vulnerability to a potential Strait of Hormuz closure by developing port and oil infrastructure in Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman. This strategic shift would allow the UAE to export oil without passing through the strait, which Iran has threatened to block. The key question is whether Fujairah can be upgraded quickly enough to handle major export volumes, and how Iran might respond to this end run around its chokepoint leverage.