Gulf states accelerate pipeline projects to export oil without relying on the Strait of Hormuz amid US‑Iran tensions
Executive summary: Gulf countries are advancing concrete pipeline projects to export oil without using the Strait of Hormuz after six months of heightened US‑Iran tensions. Bypassing the strait reduces the risk of supply disruptions from potential blockages or sanctions, safeguarding oil revenues and market stability.
Who is involved: Gulf petroleum producers (including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain), Iranian and US authorities whose tensions prompted the shift, and pipeline developers.
Likely next: The source does not disclose specific upcoming milestones for the pipeline projects.
After six months of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, Gulf petroleum producers are concretizing plans for overland oil pipelines that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative aims to reduce exposure to potential blockages or sanctions that could disrupt maritime shipments. By securing alternative export routes, the countries seek to protect their oil revenues and maintain market share despite geopolitical volatility. The move reflects a broader strategy to diversify transport infrastructure in response to persistent regional instability.
Timeline
- — Les pays du Golfe en quête de nouvelles routes de l’or noir pour s’émanciper du détroit d’Ormuz (Le Monde — Économie)
Analysis — what this means
Sectors affected
- Gulf oil export
- Maritime shipping through the Strait of Hormuz
- Pipeline construction and infrastructure
Historical parallels
- Le Monde, 16 June 2026: Gulf invests in overland routes to circumvent Ormuz uncertainty
- Le Figaro, 28 June 2026: Risks range from mines to being blocked in the Gulf as Ormuz remains tense
- Le Figaro, 13 July 2026: Gulf crisis keeps fuel prices elevated despite oil market levels
Key entities
Sources
- Les pays du Golfe en quête de nouvelles routes de l’or noir pour s’émanciper du détroit d’Ormuz — Le Monde — Économie