Middle East Energy Flexibility Becomes the New Power
The Middle East's energy infrastructure is under increasing pressure due to various factors such as attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, threats around the Strait of Hormuz, and regional instability.
In this new energy landscape, power no longer belongs only to those who produce oil, but also to those who can redirect flows, reach alternative markets, and adapt their energy systems quickly when disruption strikes.
The US Energy Information Administration estimated that Saudi and Emirati pipelines had about 2.6 million barrels per day of unused capacity in 2025 that could bypass Hormuz during a disruption.
Countries with alternative infrastructure, such as the East-West Pipeline in Saudi Arabia and the UAE's route to Fujairah, can create room to maneuver and reduce their dependence on single chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.