ADNOC delivers update on landmark pipeline to Abu Dhabi crown prince

Abu Dhabi’s crown prince chaired an ADNOC meeting in which he was updated on the status of the company’s controversial West-East Pipeline Project, Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed on May 15.

The engagement was a meeting of the ADNOC Board of Directors' Executive Committee, with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in attendance.

The UAE is fast-tracking the West-East Pipeline to shield exports from Hormuz disruptions, but that same logic highlights how exposed Gulf energy flows remain in any regional conflict and attacks by Iran. 

This comes after ADNOC announced that it would inject AED 200bn ($55bn) into its capital investment programme spanning refining, manufacturing and marketing from 2026 to 2028.

The West-East Pipeline, currently under construction, is expected to become operational in 2027 and will double ADNOC's crude export capacity through the port of Fujairah, a strategically significant bypass of the Strait of Hormuz.

Sheikh Khaled directed the company to accelerate delivery of the project as ADNOC moves into what the Executive Committee described as a new phase of world-scale project execution.

The capital deployment figure underscores the UAE's accelerating push to reduce dependence on foreign imports and consolidate its position as a global energy and chemicals hub. ADNOC was described as well-positioned to increase production responsibly to meet market demand when export constraints allow.

The committee also reviewed progress at the TA'ZIZ Phase 1 chemicals ecosystem in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Al Dhafra Region. The platform is on track to produce 4.7mn tonnes per annum of industrial chemicals by end-2028, positioning it as one of the largest integrated chemicals platforms in the Gulf.

Long-term offtake and feedstock agreements announced at the Make it in the Emirates 2026 forum were noted, alongside a partnership with Alpha Dhabi on a feasibility study to produce up to 14 industrial chemicals domestically across construction, automotive, packaging and consumer goods applications.

Sheikh Khaled also directed ADNOC to prioritise Made in the Emirates products across its operations, reinforcing the company's In-Country Value programme as a driver of domestic value chain development.