Overview
- Abu Dhabi’s crown prince directed ADNOC on Friday to accelerate the West–East pipeline, which officials say is already under construction and slated to start up in 2027.
- The new line is expected to lift Fujairah export capacity to about 4 million barrels per day, up from roughly 1.8–1.9 million today on the existing Habshan–Fujairah (ADCOP) route.
- The project expands the UAE’s ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that has faced severe disruption since late February and has seen attacks on shipping and Fujairah facilities.
- The announcement follows the UAE’s exit from OPEC this month, freeing it from output quotas as ADNOC pursues a capacity target near 5 million barrels per day by 2027 and rolls out major project spending reported at about $55 billion for 2026–2028.
- Greater pipeline throughput to Fujairah could ease supply risks for major buyers in Asia, including India, by cutting exposure to blocked sea lanes and high war-risk insurance in the Gulf.