No More Going Through The Strait of Hormuz! Multiple Middle Eastern Countries Are Opening New International Logistics Routes

No More Going Through The Strait of Hormuz! Multiple Middle Eastern Countries Are Opening New International Logistics Routes

Against the backdrop of ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions and no improvement in the situation of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman are launching alternative logistics corridors, port capacities, and inland transport routes to ensure the smooth flow of critical resources.

Governments and logistics operators worldwide are swiftly relocating goods to ports outside conflict zones, utilizing land corridors, bonded transit systems, and rail networks to enhance seamless supply chain connectivity in the Gulf region.

Saudi Arabia strengthens the Red Sea shipping corridor

The Saudi Ports Authority announced on Tuesday the launch of an integrated logistics corridor plan, connecting its Red Sea ports to neighboring countries and Gulf Cooperation Council allies through inland freight routes.

The logistics corridor plan allows for the transfer of containers and general cargo originally intended for ports in the Eastern Province and other gateway ports in Gulf countries to West Coast ports, including Jeddah Port, King Abdullah Port, Yanbu Commercial Port, Yanbu Industrial Port, NEOM Port, Jizan Port, and Jizan City Port (JCPDI).

The goods unloaded at these ports will be transported across Saudi Arabia via designated truck transport channels to destinations such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, and Yemen, enabling freight to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

The Saudi Arabian Taxation Authority (ZATCA) announced that it will simplify transit services at all customs ports, allowing goods to be transported through the land, sea, and air bonded transit system within Saudi Arabia to neighboring countries and Gulf countries.

Importers and exporters can enjoy storing goods in bonded zones and logistics parks under deferred taxation arrangements, providing flexible solutions for the integration, redistribution, or re export of goods before final customs clearance.

UAE launches sea land intermodal network

In the United Arab Emirates, goods are being transported to ports along the Gulf of Oman, including Fujairah Port and Khorfakan Port, outside the main risk areas controlled by Iran.

DP World stated that emergency arrangements allow containers to be unloaded at East Coast ports and transported via bonded roads to Jebel Ali for final customs clearance.

At the same time, Etihad Railway Company will continue to provide freight services through the national railway network, taking on the responsibility of connecting ports, industrial areas, and inland logistics hubs.

In the past nine days, Etihad Railway Freight Services has operated over 100 trains, transporting approximately 459000 tons of goods and nearly 8000 containers. In addition, the company has activated multiple new railway corridors and deployed multimodal transport capacity to its east coast ports and Alghero Port railway terminal, while also adding five railway trains as additional support.

The AD Ports Group declares that all UAE ports and terminal facilities, as well as related services, managed and operated by its port cluster will remain fully operational, while shipping vessels in the strait will continue to provide intra bay transportation services.

The UAE government has also collaborated with other Gulf Cooperation Council member states and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to launch an emergency aviation corridor with a capacity of 48 flights per hour.

Oman designated alternative entry portal

In addition, Oman is vigorously promoting its three major ports of Suhar, Dukum, and Salalah as alternative entry points for goods entering the Gulf region.

The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of the country, together with the Omani Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Omani Police, has launched multiple measures aimed at accelerating customs clearance and transportation processes. Specific measures include allowing empty trucks from Gulf Cooperation Council countries to enter Oman ports for loading, and relying on electronic customs systems to handle permit procedures to accelerate transit operations.