Source: Author’s compilation.
The Strait of Hormuz is of strategic importance to the global oil trade, particularly because there are limited alternatives. The Iran War in 2026 underlined the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the impact of its interdiction. This led to the consideration of alternatives to the oil and container routes through the Strait of Hormuz, many of which are already in place, cover about 9 mbd and 8.5 million TEUs. This represents a shortfall of 11 mbd from the 20 mbd handled before the war and a shortfall of 21.5 million TEUs from the 30 million TEUs handled by Persian Gulf container ports, particularly transshipment cargo in Jebel Ali. The main alternative corridors include:
A. The UAE Alternative
- A.1 Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP) (Habshan-Fujairah). Capacity of 2-3 mbd with plans to double capacity to 4 mbd in 2027.
- A.2 Fujairah Landbridge. Using the port of Fujairah to ship containers. Currently of low capacity but could substantially increase.
- A.3 Emeriti Canal. A highly complex and capital-intensive proposal trying to bypass the Strait of Hormuz through a canal going through the UAE and ending near Fujairah. Judged to be not commercially feasible.
B. The Saudi Arabia Overland Alternative
- B.1. East-West Crude Oil Pipeline (Abqaiq-Yanbu Pipeline). 7 mbd of capacity. The most significant alternative with plans to expand the capacity.
- B.2. Saudi Arabian landbridge. Allows for the transfer of containers by truck between the port of Dammam on the Persian Gulf and the Port of Jeddah on the Red Sea. 1,300 km journey can be done in less than 24 hours. Could transfer about 5 million TEUs in both directions per year. Dammam would act as a feeder to Persian Gulf ports. Rail landbridge project between Jeddah and Dammam under development.
C. The Oman Alternative
- C.1. UAE landbridge. Connecting Dubai (Jebel Ali) to the Gulf of Oman (Khor Fakkan / Sohar), by-passing Hormuz. Dubai would lose its hub function (becoming a feeder to other Persian Gulf ports) but could be commercially serviced with a capacity of about 5 million TEUs per year.
- C.2. UAE/Oman landbridge. Connecting Dubai to the major transshipment hub of Salalah by truck in about 24-36 hours. This could carry about 0.5 M TEU per year.
- C.3. Proposed Gulf Super Express Pipeline (Iraq / Kuwait / UAE / Oman). 5 mbd to Duqm and 2 mbd bypass to Salalah.
D. The Mediterranean Alternative
- D.1 Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline. 250,000 bd as an outlet for Iraqi oil exports. Planned to be expanded to 700,000 bd.
- D.2 Proposed Basra-Aqaba Pipeline. 1 mbd of capacity. D.1 and D.2 could allow Iraq to export 50% of its oil production through the Mediterranean.
The Sumed pipeline, which roughly runs parallel to the Suez Canal, is also indirectly an outlet for the Persian Gulf but would depend on the capacity to ship Middle Eastern oil (mainly Saudi) to the Red Sea. There is also the possibility of using trucks to carry oil around the Strait of Hormuz, but such capacity is limited and would make little difference.