Kuwait in talks with Arab neighbors on oil pipeline to bypass Strait of Hormuz

Kuwaiti Oil Minister Tariq Sulaiman Al-Roumi said on Monday, 3 August 2026, that his country is in talks with Saudi Arabia and several other Arab states on building a new crude oil export pipeline that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to Japan's Kyodo news agency, he said one proposed route would run from Kuwait through Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea or Oman, while another would connect the country to the UAE's Fujairah port. Al-Roumi described the project as "huge" and said Kuwait is currently looking for the most cost effective option.

The minister said Kuwaiti oil exports have "completely stopped" because of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and that exports will remain at zero for as long as the waterway stays blocked. Kuwait, which lies at the head of the Persian Gulf, had been one of Japan's major crude suppliers before the US and Israeli war against Iran began in late February 2026.

Al-Roumi added that rebuilding some of the damaged oil storage tanks would take at least a year, and that Kuwait is also in discussions on raising strategic reserves held in friendly countries. He said the country's vital facilities, including the oil sector, are protected by air defenses.