In a feature published by Bloomberg, Dr. Carole Nakhle, CEO of Crystol Energy, commented on the United Arab Emirates’ plan to double its crude oil export capacity through Fujairah by 2027, reducing its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.
The article explains that ADNOC is accelerating the expansion of its pipeline to Fujairah, a port located outside the Strait of Hormuz. The move has gained added relevance during the current regional crisis, as disruptions around Hormuz have raised pressure on Gulf producers to secure alternative export routes.
Dr. Nakhle noted that while the project has become more significant in the context of the Hormuz crisis, its strategic logic predates the war. The core objective is clear: reducing dependence on a major shipping chokepoint that remains central to global oil and gas flows.
She also highlighted that the expansion fits naturally with ADNOC’s broader production growth plans. As the UAE increases its oil production capacity, export infrastructure must keep pace. Otherwise, infrastructure could become a bottleneck that limits the value of upstream expansion.
The Bloomberg article also places the Fujairah project in the wider context of the UAE’s evolving oil strategy, including its recent exit from OPEC and its ambition to respond more flexibly to market demand. Additional export capacity gives the UAE more options, both during periods of geopolitical disruption and after shipping through Hormuz normalises.
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