The UAE has moved to expand alternative trade routes after disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz began putting additional pressure on Gulf shipping and supply chains.
Foreign Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the UAE has activated logistics corridors linking the country with the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea, while working with Oman to handle UAE-bound shipments through the ports of Sohar and Duqm.
The country is also making greater use of road, rail and freight networks to move cargo overland, while expanding capacity at ports including Khor Fakkan, Fujairah and Dibba.
The moves come as shipping traffic through Hormuz has slowed amid the latest escalation between Iran and the United States. Reuters reported that only seven commodity vessels crossed the waterway on Monday, compared with eight the previous day, according to Kpler data.
For businesses in the UAE, the changes are particularly important because Dubai and Abu Dhabi serve as major distribution and re-export centres for goods moving across the region.
The government has also been working to expand pipelines and other infrastructure that can reduce dependence on vulnerable maritime routes.
