July 25, 2026 [FUENTE ]- Gulf states are advancing at least seven major pipeline projects to reroute oil exports via the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Mediterranean, reducing reliance on the Strait of Hormuz that previously carried about 15 million barrels per day.
Key initiatives include Saudi Arabia’s existing East-West Pipeline to Yanbu, a $3 billion UAE pipeline to Fujairah expected by mid-2027, and Iraqi plans for routes through Turkey and Syria (up to 2 million bpd) plus a possible line to Jordan’s Aqaba port.
Goldman Sachs estimates these projects could add 3.8 million bpd of bypass capacity by end-2027 and 7.3 million bpd by end-2028, potentially allowing up to 60% of the Gulf’s pre-war exports to avoid Hormuz.
The shift is driven by ongoing Iran-related tensions that have disrupted the strait and pushed oil prices higher, prompting producers to treat maritime dependence as an unacceptable long-term risk.
If realized, the new routes would elevate Africa’s Red Sea coastline (Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti) as a central energy corridor—though they still face Houthi threats, higher transport costs, and pipeline vulnerabilities.
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