Fujairah port disruption highlights risks to Gulf oil exports

Some oil-loading activities at the port of Fujairah Port in the United Arab Emirates were temporarily halted following a drone attack and fire on March 14. Fujairah is one of the world’s key hubs for refuelling ships and exporting crude oil and refined fuels.

The port handled more than 1.7 million barrels of oil and fuel exports per day last year, representing roughly 1.7 percent of global demand. Located on the Gulf of Oman about 70 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz, Fujairah has become increasingly important as regional tensions threaten shipping through the strategic waterway, as underscored by Reuters.

In 2025, Fujairah sold 7.4 million cubic metres of marine fuels, making it the fourth-largest bunkering hub in the world, behind Singapore, Rotterdam and Zhoushan in China.

For the UAE — which produced more than 3.4 million barrels of oil per day before the conflict — the port is strategically vital because it serves as the export terminal for the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline. The roughly 400-kilometre pipeline connects inland oil facilities at Habshan with Fujairah, allowing crude exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

The pipeline plays a key role in exporting the UAE’s flagship Murban crude grade, which is largely shipped to Asian markets. Analysts warn that prolonged disruption at Fujairah could potentially force production cuts for one of OPEC’s largest producers.

Fujairah also serves as a major storage hub. With a storage capacity of about 18 million cubic metres, the port hosts several international storage companies that handle crude oil and refined products, making it a key center for blending and commercial storage.

According to Reuters sources, oil-loading operations at Fujairah resumed on March 15 after the earlier disruption.

Tensions escalated further when Iran issued threats against infrastructure in neighboring countries. Tehran urged residents to evacuate three major ports that it claimed had become “legitimate targets” after being used by the United States during recent military operations.

The warning followed an announcement by Donald Trump that he had ordered US Central Command to carry out airstrikes on military targets on Kharg Island in Iran.

Mizan News Agency, Iran’s official judiciary news outlet, alleged without presenting evidence that US forces were stationed at civilian ports in the UAE, including Jebel Ali Port, Khalifa Port and Fujairah.

The agency urged residents living near those facilities to evacuate immediately, warning that the ports “may be targeted in the coming hours.”

By Nazrin Sadigova