On April 4, 2026, Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, issued a pressing call for coordinated global action to safeguard maritime routes and bolster the resilience of international supply chains. Speaking at the International Transport and Logistics Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Al Mazrouei underscored the severe and unprecedented risks currently facing global trade due to escalating geopolitical tensions, with particular emphasis on the critical Strait of Hormuz. The forum, inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, served as a platform to discuss the foundational role of transport and logistics in the global economy amidst ongoing transformations and geopolitical challenges.
Minister Al Mazrouei warned that recent disruptions, including threats to commercial vessels and oil and gas tankers, constitute an unprecedented risk to global supply chains and international trade flows. He explicitly stated that no country possesses the right to disrupt international trade, condemning actions that impede freedom of navigation. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy shipments, has been effectively shut down by Iran since early March 2026 following an escalation of military conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. This closure, coupled with renewed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea forcing carriers to abandon Suez Canal routes, has simultaneously compromised both major Middle Eastern shipping corridors, creating an unprecedented crisis in maritime logistics.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world's oil and a significant share of global container traffic flows daily. It also facilitates roughly 25% of natural gas production, 20% of the world's oil supply, and 70% of global petrochemical requirements. Data indicates a drastic reduction in ship transits through the Strait, plummeting from around 130 per day in February to just six in March, representing a 95% decrease. These disruptions have far-reaching implications for global energy and food security, placing the global economy under sustained pressure and impacting commodity flows and pricing worldwide.
Al Mazrouei stressed that ensuring the security of vital waterways is essential for maintaining the stability of global markets and that protecting freedom of navigation is a shared responsibility of the international community. He called for unified international efforts to protect shipping routes and prevent further instability. The Minister also highlighted the UAE's proactive strategy to enhance supply chain resilience through substantial investments in advanced infrastructure and logistics capabilities. This includes regional connectivity projects, such as the Hafeet Rail Project with Oman, aimed at increasing economic integration and trade capacity across the GCC region. The UAE views its ports as global re-export hubs, reinforcing its role in regional and international trade.