UAE Trade Minister Declares Strait of Hormuz a 'Red Line' That Cannot Be Tolled

The UAE remains firm that no single country will be permitted to control access to the Strait of Hormuz or impose shipping tolls on the crucial waterway, according to Minister of Foreign Trade Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi. Speaking at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Dr Al Zeyoudi emphasized that the strait represents a "red line" for the Gulf region.

"We cannot allow individual nations to determine our trade ambitions," Dr Al Zeyoudi stated. He stressed that international waterways must stay free from restrictions or tolls, noting that no single nation owns the Strait of Hormuz or holds the right to regulate access to it. Prior to the Iran war, approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas moved through this passage.

To counter potential vulnerabilities, Dr Al Zeyoudi explained that the UAE has set up regional logistics corridors connecting the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The country is collaborating with Omani authorities to handle UAE-bound cargo via the ports of Sohar and Duqm, while also fast-tracking the development of east-coast ports at Khor Fakkan and Fujairah outside the strait. Additionally, a new pipeline is under construction to expand Abu Dhabi oil export capacity through the Gulf of Oman.

These developments support a broader strategy introduced by Dr Al Zeyoudi in June to bring the UAE's reliance on Hormuz down to zero. The comprehensive plan includes expanding eastern ports alongside the construction of new pipelines, roads, and rail links to connect them directly to petroleum, oil, and gas facilities.

"No other country has the ability to activate multiple new trade corridors at this scale and with this speed," Dr Al Zeyoudi noted, characterizing the changes as permanent structural shifts rather than temporary solutions. "No single checkpoint can be allowed to threaten our economic viability."

Recent trade data demonstrates the success of these alternative routes, with non-oil foreign trade reaching a record Dh1.94 trillion ($528 billion) in the first half of the year—a 13.1 percent increase from the previous year. Furthermore, non-oil exports climbed to a historic high of Dh453 billion, highlighting the resilience of the UAE's diversified trade pathways.