Oil: The search for alternative routes beyond Hormuz

Gulf nations are accelerating efforts to establish oil export routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz due to regional conflict and maritime disruptions. In 2025, 14.95 million barrels per day transited the strait; however, nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are expanding pipeline capacity to redirect shipments. While projects like the Iraq-Syria pipeline revival and Saudi capacity upgrades aim for completion by 2030, they face significant technical, economic, and geopolitical obstacles to becoming operational alternatives.