How are Gulf states responding to the six-month conflict with Iran by investing billions in alternative oil export infrastructure to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, what specific pipeline projects are being pursued by the UAE (doubling Fujairah capacity to 3.6 million bpd by 2027),

Saudi Arabia – East-West Pipeline expansion (beyond 7 million bpd)

• The 1,200-km East-West Pipeline from Abqaiq to the Red Sea port of Yanbu reached its full capacity of 7 million bpd by March 2026, a milestone in the kingdom's long-standing contingency plan .
• After suffering attack damage during the Iran conflict, Saudi Arabia restored full 7 million bpd capacity by April 12, 2026 .
• In July 2026, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia is considering expanding capacity by up to 2 million bpd, potentially reaching nearly 9 million bpd. Preliminary talks have been held with neighboring countries about shared use .
• However, effective export capacity is closer to 4.5–5 million bpd after accounting for domestic refinery use of about 2 million bpd .

Kuwait – Red Sea pipeline talks with Saudi Arabia

• Kuwait's oil exports have "completely stopped" due to the Hormuz blockade .
• Kuwait Petroleum Corp. is in active talks with Saudi Arabia and the UAE about building a crude export pipeline to the Red Sea or via UAE infrastructure. Oil Minister Tariq Al-Roumi confirmed discussions with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states on a new pipeline route .
• Both routes—through Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea or via the UAE—are under consideration .

Iraq and Jordan – reviving the pipeline to Aqaba

• The search results did not provide specific, confirmed updates on an Iraq–Jordan pipeline revival to the Red Sea port of Aqaba. AP notes that "at least seven major pipeline projects are under construction or being revived," and CBS similarly reports seven major projects, which would include an Iraq–Jordan route . However, concrete details on this specific project were not found in the available sources.

Qatar – LNG bypass challenge

• Qatar, the world's top LNG exporter, faces the most acute predicament: it lacks alternative export routes within its own territory and would need to build a pipeline through a neighbor to bypass Hormuz .

Complementary strategies

• Expanding oil storage in Asia: Gulf producers are vastly expanding storage capacity in Asian markets (e.g., in Japan, South Korea, China, and India) to preposition crude closer to customers and reduce the need for continuous Hormuz passage .
• Maximizing existing pipeline throughput: Saudi Arabia pushed its East-West line to its technical maximum of 7 million bpd and is considering adding up to 2 million bpd more .
• Rerouting flows: According to Gulf News, of the remaining 13.26 million bpd of Gulf oil needing alternative routes, as much as 11.5 million bpd could eventually be rerouted by maximizing existing and planned pipeline capacity .
• Trucking and rail alternatives: Some Gulf countries have explored truck convoys and rail corridors as stopgap measures, though these are far smaller in scale .

Obstacles and analyst warnings

Houthi threats to Red Sea routes

• The Red Sea ports (Yanbu for Saudi Arabia) and the Gulf of Oman (Fujairah for the UAE) are not immune from attack. Houthi forces in Yemen have demonstrated the ability to strike shipping and infrastructure in the Red Sea, and Iranian fire already hit Fujairah during the conflict . Analysts warn that concentrating export flows through Red Sea chokepoints creates new vulnerabilities .

Total independence from Hormuz is unrealistic

• Even with all planned expansions, maximum combined bypass capacity would be roughly 11.5 million bpd out of more than 13 million bpd that normally transits Hormuz—leaving a meaningful gap .
• Goldman Sachs analysis cited by the Times of Israel notes that more than 45% of Gulf oil exports would still need to navigate Hormuz or other chokepoints even after pipeline expansions .
• The existing infrastructure is insufficient to offset full disruption: Saudi Arabia's East-West line can move 5–7 million bpd, and the UAE's Habshan–Fujairah line can transport about 1.5 million bpd—together far less than pre-conflict Hormuz throughput of about 17–20 million bpd .

New corridors create additional targets

• CNBC reports that the new pipeline corridors and Red Sea ports "won't end the threat Iran poses to Middle East oil" because they simply shift the vulnerability from one chokepoint to another .
• The East-West Pipeline itself was already attacked and damaged during the conflict before being repaired .
• Fujairah terminal was disrupted under Iranian fire, demonstrating that bypass routes are not safe from military action .