Qatar fully resumes maritime navigation after a two week pause

Qatar announced on Sunday, 26 July 2026 (4 Mordad 1405), that it is fully resuming its maritime navigation activities after a two week pause, with all types of vessels allowed to restart operations. The suspension had been imposed amid heightened security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in the Persian Gulf and its cargoes transit the Strait of Hormuz, which makes the suspension and resumption of its shipping one of the more direct indicators of the waterway's operating condition.

According to vessel tracking data published on Friday, 24 July 2026, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had fallen to six confirmed crossings, down 60 percent from the previous day. Doha's decision to fully resume activity is among the first announced steps by a major regional energy exporter toward a return to normal operations.