UAE Proposes Alternative Waterway to Strait of Hormuz
Dubai-based architectural firm Znera has presented a new "strategic water corridor" concept for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), aiming to end its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. This project, named the Union Strait, seeks to create an alternative against geopolitical risks in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman (and thus to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean), holds vital importance for global energy trade. In the first half of 2025, an average of 20.9 million barrels of oil per day, equivalent to approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption, passed through this strait. However, escalating military tensions in the Middle East have recently prompted many countries to seek alternatives to this critical route.
Znera architects described the proposed waterway not just as a transportation route, but as the nation's "national backbone." The concept's objectives include ensuring trade sustainability, diversifying the economy, and developing new urban areas and settlements along the waterway.
Challenges and Discussions
Znera officials stated their belief that the design could shape not only cities but also the strategic future of nations. While the project presents a grand vision, it faces various challenges and criticisms. The construction of the canal, planned to span a wide geographical area, is noted to require immense cost and time.
Furthermore, concerns are raised regarding the project's security, while it is also debated that increasing the capacity of existing pipelines for oil and gas transportation could be a more economical alternative. Currently, the Union Strait is not an active construction project but rather an architectural proposal and vision study for the UAE's strategic future.
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