UAE Orders ADNOC to Double Oil Export Capacity by 2027

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to accelerate construction of the new West-East Pipeline, a project that will double the UAE's oil export capacity through Fujairah by 2027. The decision was announced following an executive committee meeting chaired by the Crown Prince at ADNOC's headquarters. The pipeline, currently under construction, will significantly expand the UAE's ability to bypass the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that has been severely disrupted since Iran effectively shuttered the waterway in late February in response to a US-Israeli air and naval campaign. The existing Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP), also known as the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, can currently carry up to 1.8 million barrels per day and remains the UAE's only route for exporting oil outside the Strait of Hormuz. The new pipeline will effectively double this export capacity, providing the UAE with greater operational flexibility to meet global energy demand amid ongoing supply disruptions that have affected roughly a fifth of global oil supplies normally flowing to Asia. Sheikh Khaled commended ADNOC for maintaining safe operations while continuing to reliably supply energy to both local and international customers during this period of heightened tension. The announcement comes as the UAE recently departed OPEC after being a member since 1967, reflecting Abu Dhabi's broader strategy to expand production capacity through ADNOC. The country has targeted production capacity of 4.9 million barrels per day. The executive committee also noted progress on the TA'ZIZ Phase 1 chemicals ecosystem in Al Ruwais Industrial City, which is set to produce 4.7 million tonnes per annum of industrial chemicals by the end of 2028. Sheikh Khaled also directed ADNOC to prioritize Made in the Emirates products and in-country value opportunities across its projects and operations.