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UAE seeks zero Hormuz reliance while expanding eastern ports

The country says it wants to reduce Hormuz dependence to zero even if the waterway remains volatile, while major UAE ports process most of its non-oil trade.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

The UAE is pursuing a strategy to cut its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz to zero, even amid uncertainty around whether the waterway stays open, as outlined by the country’s minister for foreign trade, Thani Al Zeyoudi. According to reporting by SCMP Economy, the approach is framed as insurance against volatility in the region. A key constraint is that the ports that underpin the UAE’s trade activity sit close to the Strait of Hormuz. SCMP Economy reports that Jebel Ali and Khalifa ports together handle most of the UAE’s US$1 trillion in annual non-oil trade, much of it moving to and from Asia.

With conflict-driven risk leading some exporters across Asia to look for alternative routes, Oman ports are reportedly benefiting from a shift in shipping patterns. SCMP Economy says Duqm, Salalah, and Sohar have seen renewed interest from shipping lines, investors, and free zone deals as cargo owners seek paths viewed as less exposed to Hormuz-related instability.

SCMP Economy adds that the UAE plans further investment in its own east coast logistics capacity, including projects at Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, and Dibba, plus a new facility planned for the east coast. Al Zeyoudi said the UAE will keep moving forward with the new plan regardless of whether Hormuz is open, aiming to reduce dependency even as conditions evolve.

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