Strait of Hormuz is a ‘red line’ and cannot be tolled, UAE trade minister says

UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi has declared that the Strait of Hormuz is a "red line" that cannot be controlled by any single country or subject to tolls. Speaking at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, Dr Al Zeyoudi emphasized that the Gulf nation will not permit any entity to dictate its trade ambitions through the vital waterway.

He stressed that international waterways must remain free from restrictions or tolls, asserting that no country owns the Strait of Hormuz and should not determine who can or cannot access it. The UAE has been proactive in establishing regional logistics corridors linking the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman, and is collaborating with Omani authorities to facilitate UAE-bound cargo through the ports of Sohar and Duqm.

Furthermore, the UAE is swiftly developing east-coast ports at Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, both located outside the strait, to enhance its trade capabilities. The expansion of these ports, as well as the construction of a new pipeline to augment oil exports from Abu Dhabi via the Gulf of Oman, is part of a broader strategy outlined by Dr Al Zeyoudi in June to reduce the UAE's reliance on Hormuz to "zero" in the event of a blockade.

This shift is not a short-term solution but a permanent transformation of the UAE's trade positioning. According to the UAE's trade data for the first half of the year, these alternative trade routes have proven effective, with non-oil foreign trade reaching a record Dh1.94 trillion ($528 billion), a 13.1% increase from the previous year and nearly 80% higher than the same period in 2022.

Non-oil exports hit an all-time high of Dh453 billion, highlighting the strength of the UAE's diversified trade corridors. Dr Al Zeyoudi emphasized that the UAE has turned every challenge into a structural advantage, turning crises into opportunities for growth.