17. Kuveyt emiri
Kuwait’s oil future hinges on fate of Strait of Hormuz
KUWAIT: Kuwait’s once prosperous oil sector has stood largely paralysed for months, with petroleum exports plummeting as fighting raged across the Gulf — triggering the country’s largest crisis in decades. Half a year into the war, Kuwait remains a hostage to its uncompromising need to access the Strait of Hormuz — where the war between the US and Iran has choked off the once plentiful energy exports that moved across its waters. Oil has long been the bedrock for the tiny Gulf state’s economy — where more than 90 per cent of government revenue and nearly all export earnings rely on reliable crude sales. The country is also home to roughly 6pc of total oil reserves globally. Unlike Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait has no pipelines bypassing the strait, forcing its crude exports to sail through the contested waterway to the international market. Over 90pc of govt revenue and nearly all export earnings depend on crude sales “Without a doubt, this is the toughest and biggest crisis that we have faced in the oil sector in Kuwait since the 1990 invasion by Iraq,” said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) chief executive Shaikh Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah. Then, as Saddam Hussein’s forces retreated from a US-led onslaught to liberate Kuwait, the Iraqi army torched hundreds of wells, destroyed massive storage tanks and targeted refineries, causing catastrophic damage to much of the country’s oil sector. Kuwait has been spared the same levels of destruction during this war but has not emerged unscathed. Just days into the war, the state-owned KPC declared force majeure — a legal manoeuvre that protects an enterprise when they cannot meet their contractual obligations due to unforeseeable events, like wars and natural disasters. The notice was lifted in June. The country has also weathered repeated waves of Iranian strikes targeting water desalination plants and energy installations, including petroleum infrastructure along with salvos aimed at US military bases. “This crisis has presented us with a new challenge,” Al-Sabah told AFP during an exclusive interview from a temporary office space he relocated to after KPC’s headquarters was hit by a drone strike in April. Before the war, Kuwait was producing slightly more than 2.6 million barrels of oil per day, with an ambitious plan to reach 4m barrels daily by 2040. “Once the strait is open, it reverts to free movement, then we can easily go back to our pre-war production levels and even higher,” said Al-Sabah. Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2026
IEA: Petrol stokları hızla tükeniyor, Hürmüz Boğazı acilen açılmalıIran says Pak-Saudi-Turkiye deal shows 'change in perception' towards US
Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the defence pact signed last week between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye was “a sign of a change in the perception” of regional countries towards the United States. The joint defence agreement, signed in Makkah on Friday, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. “This development is a sign of a change in the perception of the countries of the region,” ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said while responding to a query during a weekly press briefing on Monday. “Considering the developments of the last two to three years, the countries of the region have realised that security is not a commodity that can be bought from false security brokers,” Iran’s state media quoted him as saying, referring to the US — an ally of the three signatories to the pact. Baqaei further said that there was “no reason to worry that this treaty will be against Iran”, highlighting Iran’s deep religious, historical and civilisational ties with Pakistan, Turkiye and even Saudi Arabia. “This development is an important sign that the countries of the region have concluded that they cannot rely on and trust the claim of security provided by the United States and some other actors outside the region, and they are attempting to try another method; by relying on their own capabilities and perspectives,” IRNA quoted Baqaei as saying. “Any plan that is based on the geopolitical and historical realities of the region, is comprehensive and inclusive, and correctly identifies the enemy and the threat, has a chance of helping to strengthen security and prevent instability and abuses by the Zionist enemy and its allies,” he added, referring to Israel. In response to a question about Iran’s willingness to possibly join the joint pact, Baqaei said Iran has always “emphasised pursuing security mechanisms based on cooperation between regional countries” and “free from the influence and destructive intervention” of foreign actors. “Those plans still exist and can certainly be updated in light of developments,” the spokesperson added. “We are in close contact with neighbouring countries and regional countries, and we hope that all countries will learn from the developments of the last two or three years and adopt the best path to strengthen the region’s collective security,” he said, according to IRNA. Dar speaks with Kuwait FM, others on pact Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a phone call from Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, wherein the latter felicitated the former on the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday. According to the FO, the two dignitaries spoke late on Sunday and also “exchanged views on the regional situation, including occupied East Jerusalem”. They also discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and “matters of mutual interest, including the follow-up to FM Jarrah’s recent visit to Pakistan and further enhancing cooperation and investment in key sectors”. “The two sides agreed to remain closely engaged,” the FO added. The deputy premier also shared the contours of the pact with Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi and former Guinea-Bissau president General Umaro Sissoco Embaló. In a joint call with them late last night, Dar shared the agreement’s “significance for strengthening strategic cooperation and contributing to regional peace, stability and security”, FO said. Dar and Tshisekedi also exchanged views on Pakistan-DRC relations and agreed on the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation, including through high-level exchanges. DPM Dar had also spoken to Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand earlier. “The two exchanged views on the regional situation, including the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye,” the FO said. It added that Dar shared the “essence of the agreement” and the “joint resolve of the three countries to contribute to regional peace, stability and security”. On Sunday, Dar said that the agreement remained “open to any country in the region” willing to uphold its fundamental principles after the Turkish foreign minister said Egypt could be joining the pact. “The Makkah accord is the culmination of years of discussions and coordination, with a common desire to strengthen strategic cooperation in addressing multifarious peace and security challenges and advancing regional peace, stability and prosperity,” Dar said. He clarified that the pact did not abrogate or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between the signatory countries, or with other countries or organisations. Reiterating that any external armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all under the pact, he said it was consistent with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Moreover, he said, the accord was “purely defensive” in nature. “It is not targeted against any country and its sole purpose is to further strengthen our ongoing efforts towards peace, stability and prosperity in the wider region.” “The Makkah Accord remains open to any country in the region willing to uphold its fundamental principles and resolve differences through mutual respect, cooperation and peaceful means,” he said, adding that the pact was consistent with the fundamental pillars of Islamabad’s foreign policy. “Pakistan looks forward to continuing to work closely with all brotherly countries in the region towards lasting peace and stability. We remain committed to advancing the cause of peaceful resolution of all conflicts and building a more secure, stable and prosperous future for our peoples,” he concluded.
Başbakan Şahbaz, Suudi Arabistan'a Üç Günlük Ziyarete BaşladıKuwait felicitates Pakistan on Makkah defence deal
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a phone call from Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, wherein the latter felicitated the former on the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday. According to the FO, the two dignitaries spoke late on Sunday and also “exchanged views on the regional situation, including occupied East Jerusalem”. They also discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and “matters of mutual interest, including the follow-up to FM Jarrah’s recent visit to Pakistan and further enhancing cooperation and investment in key sectors”. “The two sides agreed to remain closely engaged,” the FO added. Earlier, DPM Dar had also spoken to Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand. “The two exchanged views on the regional situation, including the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye,” the FO said. It added that Dar shared the “essence of the agreement” and the “joint resolve of the three countries to contribute to regional peace, stability and security”. The joint defence agreement, signed in Makkah on Friday, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. On Sunday, Dar said that the agreement remained “open to any country in the region” willing to uphold its fundamental principles after the Turkish foreign minister said Egypt could be joining the pact. “The Makkah accord is the culmination of years of discussions and coordination, with a common desire to strengthen strategic cooperation in addressing multifarious peace and security challenges and advancing regional peace, stability and prosperity,” Dar said. He clarified that the pact did not abrogate or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between the signatory countries, or with other countries or organisations. Reiterating that any external armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all under the pact, he said it was consistent with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Moreover, he said, the accord was “purely defensive” in nature. “It is not targeted against any country and its sole purpose is to further strengthen our ongoing efforts towards peace, stability and prosperity in the wider region.” “The Makkah Accord remains open to any country in the region willing to uphold its fundamental principles and resolve differences through mutual respect, cooperation and peaceful means,” he said, adding that the pact was consistent with the fundamental pillars of Islamabad’s foreign policy. “Pakistan looks forward to continuing to work closely with all brotherly countries in the region towards lasting peace and stability. We remain committed to advancing the cause of peaceful resolution of all conflicts and building a more secure, stable and prosperous future for our peoples,” he concluded.
Başbakan Şahbaz, Suudi Arabistan'a Üç Günlük Ziyarete BaşladıCDF Munir, Kuwait FM discuss regional security and steps to boost bilateral cooperation
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed regional security and steps to boost bilateral cooperation with the visiting foreign minister of Kuwait, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday. Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, while on an official visit to the country, called on the field marshal at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). “During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security and steps to further strengthen bilateral cooperation were discussed,” the statement issued by the ISPR on social media said. It added that CDF Munir reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to Kuwait, emphasising that both countries shared a “common vision for regional peace and prosperity”. Meanwhile, Al-Sabah appreciated Pakistan’s “steadfast support”, its constructive contribution toward regional peace and stability, and the deep fraternal ties between the two nations, the statement said. Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Kuwait in diverse sectors during his own meeting with the country’s foreign minister. According to a statement issued by the PMO, the visiting minister was warmly welcomed by the premier. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with the federal ministers for defence, commerce, national food security and research, communications, maritime affairs, and petroleum. The adviser to the prime minister and senior government officials were also present. “The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of ties and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Kuwait in diverse fields, including trade, investment, energy, agriculture, information technology, maritime affairs, and human resource development,” the statement said. The two leaders exchanged views on the regional situation, with PM Shehbaz reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with the leadership and people of Kuwait. He strongly condemned the attacks on Kuwait and other Gulf countries during the ongoing Middle East conflict, the PMO added. He stated that Pakistan was playing its part as an “honest and sincere mediator and facilitator” in the regional peace efforts, thanking the Kuwaiti leadership for its support. Al-Sabah in turn reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual benefit, the statement said. He appreciated the “valuable contributions” of Pakistan — particularly by PM Shehbaz, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Asim Munir — in “advancing dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the current crisis and restore peace to the region”, it added. According to the PMO, the two sides stressed the importance of “continued consultation and coordination” on issues of mutual interest and agreed to exchange delegations in the near future to carry these discussions forward. “In this regard, the prime minister reiterated his invitation to His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient time,” it added. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also met Kuwait’s foreign minister, with the situation in the Middle East coming under discussion. According to the Foreign Office (FO), the two held a “warm and productive” tête-à-tête at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan–Kuwait bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the longstanding brotherly partnership,” it said. “They also held in-depth discussions on regional and international developments, with particular focus on the evolving situation in the Middle East,” it added. Later, the two leaders co-chaired delegation-level talks, the FO posted on X, adding that both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Kuwait bilateral relations and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, labour, agriculture, information technology, health, mining and minerals, defence and the broader economic partnership. “They agreed to further institutionalise bilateral cooperation through enhanced institutional linkages and regular high-level exchanges,” the FO said. It added that the two sides also “reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination and cooperation at multilateral forums on issues of mutual interest”. According to the FO, the Kuwaiti FM thanked the government and people of Pakistan for the “warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation”. “He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support to Kuwait during the Covid-19 pandemic,” during which Pakistan had signed an agreement to send hundreds of medical workers to the Gulf country at its request. The FO further said that DPM Dar reaffirmed “Pakistan’s deep commitment to its longstanding brotherly relations with Kuwait and underscored Pakistan’s desire to further expand the mutually beneficial partnership across all areas of cooperation”. “The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest, including the situation in the Middle East and Palestine. The Kuwaiti foreign minister also appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability,” it said. The visiting dignitary departed Islamabad following the successful conclusion of his official visit to Pakistan. He was seen off at Islamabad International Airport by Additional Secretary (Middle East) Zahid Hussain, according to the FO. He had arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday at the invitation of Deputy PM Dar. The FO said that upon arrival at the Islamabad International Airport, he was received by Zahid Hussain, additional secretary at the foreign ministry. It added that the minister’s visit to Pakistan reflected the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries, “anchored in shared history, mutual trust and close cooperation”. Announcing the visit on Monday, the FO said Kuwait’s top diplomat was expected to pay a courtesy call on the leadership of Pakistan. Pakistan has been negotiating an expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, the Reuters news agency reported earlier this month, citing five sources with knowledge of the talks.
Pakistan'dan Kuveyt ile Kapsamlı İşbirliği MesajıPakistan committed to further strengthening cooperation with Kuwait in diverse fields, PM Shehbaz tells visiting FM
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Kuwait in diverse sectors, in a meeting with the country’s foreign minister on Wednesday. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who is on an official visit to the country, was warmly welcomed by the premier. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with the federal ministers for defence, commerce, national food security and research, communications, maritime affairs, and petroleum. The adviser to the prime minister and senior government officials were also present, according to a statement issued by the PMO. “The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of ties and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Kuwait in diverse fields, including trade, investment, energy, agriculture, information technology, maritime affairs, and human resource development,” the statement said. The two leaders exchanged views on the regional situation, with PM Shehbaz reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with the leadership and people of Kuwait. He strongly condemned the attacks on Kuwait and other Gulf countries during the ongoing Middle East conflict, the PMO added. He stated that Pakistan was playing its part as an “honest and sincere mediator and facilitator” in the regional peace efforts, thanking the Kuwaiti leadership for its support. Al-Sabah in turn reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual benefit, the statement said. He appreciated the “valuable contributions” of Pakistan — particularly by PM Shehbaz, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Asim Munir — in “advancing dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the current crisis and restore peace to the region”, it added. According to the PMO, the two sides stressed the importance of “continued consultation and coordination” on issues of mutual interest and agreed to exchange delegations in the near future to carry these discussions forward. “In this regard, the prime minister reiterated his invitation to His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient time,” it added. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also met Kuwait’s foreign minister, with the situation in the Middle East coming under discussion. According to the Foreign Office (FO), the two held a “warm and productive” tête-à-tête at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan–Kuwait bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the longstanding brotherly partnership,” it said. “They also held in-depth discussions on regional and international developments, with particular focus on the evolving situation in the Middle East,” it added. Later, the two leaders co-chaired delegation-level talks, the FO posted on X, adding that both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Kuwait bilateral relations and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, labour, agriculture, information technology, health, mining and minerals, defence and the broader economic partnership. “They agreed to further institutionalise bilateral cooperation through enhanced institutional linkages and regular high-level exchanges,” the FO said. It added that the two sides also “reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination and cooperation at multilateral forums on issues of mutual interest”. According to the FO, the Kuwaiti FM thanked the government and people of Pakistan for the “warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation”. “He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support to Kuwait during the Covid-19 pandemic,” during which Pakistan had signed an agreement to send hundreds of medical workers to the Gulf country at its request. The FO further said that DPM Dar reaffirmed “Pakistan’s deep commitment to its longstanding brotherly relations with Kuwait and underscored Pakistan’s desire to further expand the mutually beneficial partnership across all areas of cooperation”. “The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest, including the situation in the Middle East and Palestine. The Kuwaiti foreign minister also appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability,” it said. The visiting dignitary departed Islamabad following the successful conclusion of his official visit to Pakistan. He was seen off at Islamabad International Airport by Additional Secretary (Middle East) Zahid Hussain, according to the FO. He had arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday at the invitation of Deputy PM Dar. The FO said that upon arrival at the Islamabad International Airport, he was received by Zahid Hussain, additional secretary at the foreign ministry. It added that the minister’s visit to Pakistan reflected the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries, “anchored in shared history, mutual trust and close cooperation”. Announcing the visit on Monday, the FO said Kuwait’s top diplomat was expected to pay a courtesy call on the leadership of Pakistan. Pakistan has been negotiating an expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, the Reuters news agency reported earlier this month, citing five sources with knowledge of the talks.
Pakistan'dan Kuveyt ile Kapsamlı İşbirliği MesajıSituation in Middle East comes under discussion as DPM Dar meets Kuwait FM
The situation in the Middle East came under discussion as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who is on an official visit to the country. According to the Foreign Office (FO), the two held a “warm and productive” tête-à-tête at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan–Kuwait bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the longstanding brotherly partnership,” it said. “They also held in-depth discussions on regional and international developments, with particular focus on the evolving situation in the Middle East,” it added. The visiting dignitary arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday at the invitation of Deputy PM Dar. The FO said that upon arrival at the Islamabad International Airport, he was received by Zahid Hussain, additional secretary at the foreign ministry. It added that the minister’s visit to Pakistan reflected the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries, “anchored in shared history, mutual trust and close cooperation”. Announcing the visit on Monday, the FO said Kuwait’s top diplomat was expected to pay a courtesy call on the leadership of Pakistan. Pakistan has been negotiating an expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, the Reuters news agency reported earlier this month, citing five sources with knowledge of the talks.
Kuwait FM in Islamabad on official visit
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday welcomed Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who is on an official visit to the country, at the Foreign Office (FO). State-run Pakistan TV shared a picture of the two shaking hands on the social media platform X. The visiting dignitary arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday at the invitation of Deputy PM Dar. The FO said that upon arrival at the Islamabad International Airport, he was received by Zahid Hussain, additional secretary at the foreign ministry. “During the visit, the two sides will hold talks covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest,” it said. It added that the minister’s visit to Pakistan reflected the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries, “anchored in shared history, mutual trust and close cooperation”. Announcing the visit on Monday, the FO said Kuwait’s top diplomat was expected to pay a courtesy call on the leadership of Pakistan. Pakistan has been negotiating an expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, the Reuters news agency reported earlier this month, citing five sources with knowledge of the talks.
PM call with the Amir of Kuwait: 26 July 2026
The Prime Minister spoke to Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait.
Pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz
The battle for Hormuz, the growing possibility of greater Iranian influence on the critical passageway, question marks about the reliability and security of crude supplies from the Middle East, and the subsequent quest to divert oil shipments away from the crucial shipping chokepoint are reshaping global energy flows. Efforts are underway to decouple and desensitise global crude markets to events in the Strait of Hormuz. Several new pipelines projected to carry oil from the Middle East to markets bypassing the strait are on the drawing board. In a note released a couple of weeks ago, analysts at Goldman Sachs estimated that seven new pipelines are currently under discussion in the oil-rich Middle East. Once operational, possibly by the end of 2028, these pipelines could carry roughly 14 million barrels per day (bpd). This is about 60 per cent of the oil that was being shipped through the strait, Goldman estimated. Before the war, roughly 23m bpd were passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Efforts to bypass Hormuz are on. The blockage of the Strait has impacted crude exports from Saudi Arabia. With Hormuz becoming a no-go area, Saudi Arabia was forced to use its East-West pipeline to carry crude to Yanbu port on the Red Sea coast to reach its markets. Analysts at Goldman Sachs estimated that seven new pipelines are being considered that could carry about 60pc of the oil that was being shipped through it Yet there is a limit to this alternative route. The pipeline’s maximum capacity is 7m bpd, and that has been attained. Now, of this, some 2m bpd is needed for Saudi domestic refineries in the western region of the Kingdom. That meant, at best, some 5m bpd were available for export. That is considerably less than it was exporting before February 28. Saudi Arabia is reportedly now considering expanding the capacity of this crude oil pipeline to 9m bpd. Sources told Reuters that the kingdom is in preliminary talks with its neighbours on the project that would enable it to transport more oil, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE, in the meantime, has also fast-tracked the construction of another West-East pipeline that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz. This new pipeline is due for completion in 2027. The pipeline will double the UAE’s export capabilities, adding to the capacity of the already existing Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, which bypasses the Iranian stranglehold on the Strait. Once completed, the 252-mile pipeline would run parallel to the existing Fujairah pipeline and double the country’s overland capacity to 3.6m barrels a day. The UAE is also seeking to establish a new port. This new port will further reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. The Financial Times reported that a Dubai-based supply chain operator was in talks to build a new port and container terminal in the coastal area of Fujairah, where the existing Habshan–Fujairah Pipeline ends. Iraq’s exports have also been badly hit by the closure. Due to limited pipeline options to bring its oil to global markets, Baghdad has to rely on its southern Basra port on the Persian Gulf. Yet, Basra is within the range of Iranian projectiles. Over the last couple of weeks, Iranian drones have hit a vessel and the Basra port infrastructure. The war has made Iraq’s oil production fall by more than 50pc to about 1.9m bpd in June compared with around 4.2m bpd in February before the US and Israel attacked Iran, according to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries data. Since April, Iraq has been transporting crude through Syria by truck to circumvent the closure of the strait. Iraq needs alternate routes to export its oil. It is working on two pipeline projects. One route would continue through Kirkuk oil fields to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, and the other envisages rebuilding the old Kirkuk to Baniyas pipeline, transporting crude oil from Kirkuk to the port of Baniyas on Syria’s Mediterranean coast. Last week, Iraq and Syria signed an agreement to rebuild this old oil pipeline, stretching from Kirkuk in northern Iraq to Syria’s Mediterranean coast with a nameplate capacity of 700,000 bpd. The pipeline has not been in use since it was damaged during the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Iraq’s state news agency reported that Chevron would carry out the project. Thomas Barrack, US Ambassador to Turkey, said the oil pipeline agreements would lead to a program “that will make the Strait of Hormuz an afterthought.” TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said earlier that Syria could become an “important transit country for oil coming from Iraq to the Mediterranean,” especially with the need for “alternative routes” given the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A much more ambitious project is already underway in Iraq on a 435-mile-long Basra-Haditha oil pipeline. The pipeline would carry 2.5m bpd. The project was approved in 2024, and construction began in May this year, two months after the start of the US-Iran war. Upon completion, this pipeline will connect oil fields around Iraq’s southern city of Basra to Jordan’s Red Sea port city of Aqaba and link up with projects through Syria and Türkiye. Reports say Qatar, a major global LNG player, is considering several alternative routes for its exports, including via Saudi Arabia, Reuters said, quoting three sources. Kuwait is almost completely dependent on the Strait of Hormuz. They are now evaluating pipelines to bypass the strait. “We are in discussions with our brothers in Saudi Arabia and in the Emirates to look at how to expand the pipeline system that they have to accommodate Kuwaiti barrels,” Kuwait Petroleum Corporation CEO Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah told the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum last month. Interestingly, to reduce its complete dependency on Kharg loading station, Iran itself has built a Hormuz bypass: a 1,000-kilometre pipeline from Goreh at the head of the Gulf to a terminal at Jask on the Gulf of Oman. It is designed for 1m bpd. But in practice, sanctions and the unfinished terminal infrastructure have kept actual throughput at a fraction of design. The US Energy Information Administration estimated that, in summer 2024, less than 70,000 bpd were flowing through the pipeline. Loadings stopped altogether in September 2024. According to Kpler, only a single tanker — around 2m barrels — has loaded at Jask in the war so far. In the meantime, a tussle for a greater share of the global oil markets between the traditional suppliers in the Middle East and other stakeholders is also on. Guyana and Brazil are already in the race. Canada, the world’s fourth-largest crude producer, has announced plans to develop the required infrastructure and increase its export capacity. A new 1,259-kilometre pipeline to carry crude from Alberta, the Canadian oil hub, to a proposed supertanker marine terminal in British Columbia has just been announced. And despite questions about feasibility, another 3,300-km pipeline carrying oil from Alberta, Canada to Sarnia in Ontario has also been announced in the past weeks. Pipelines are a complex and time-consuming business. It is not going to serve the objective of bypassing the strait tomorrow. And, by the time these pipelines become operational, what the global demand structure will be remains a big if. The International Energy Agency is already hinting at demand destruction, while the lack of a perception of supply security from the Middle East and its impact on the global supply lines is another unknown variable impacting the global energy equation at this moment. But for now, the very idea of pipelines bypassing the Strait of Hormuz seems very much in vogue. The writer is an energy analyst and has delivered talks at the Department of Energy in Washington and the International Energy Agency. X: @rhusainsyed Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, July 27th, 2026