Gulf countries explore oil export alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz

Nations in the Persian Gulf are seeking to reduce dependency on the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports amid ongoing regional tensions and maritime disruptions. Current infrastructure includes the Saudi East-West pipeline to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and the UAE pipeline ending in Fujairah, which together have a combined capacity of approximately 8.5 million barrels per day. Proposals are under consideration for an extensive network of pipelines spanning from Iraq through Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to ports in Oman such as Duqm and Salalah. The development of such infrastructure is estimated to cost at least 50 billion dollars and requires a timeline of approximately seven years. Additionally, alternative transit routes via the Caspian Sea, involving producers like Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, are being evaluated to diversify energy flows. While some reports cite recent blockades as the primary catalyst, industry experts view these infrastructure projects as long-term strategic adjustments to mitigate geopolitical risk.