Before the Iran conflict began, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan took control of a sovereign wealth fund worth $300 billion just weeks earlier.

Now, months into a conflict that is reshaping the Middle East, that entity and its managers have become central to building the infrastructure needed to bypass Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

Abu Dhabi Pursues "Zero Hormuz" Strategy, Crown Prince's Fund Becomes Core Tool

The wealth fund has become a key instrument in Abu Dhabi's push to reduce dependence on the waterway that Iran could block. The ruler's son and the power brokers around him, though little known globally, are now leading one of the world's largest infrastructure efforts, making them critically important to Washington, international commodity markets, and Wall Street chiefs.

Sheikh Khaled, in his forties, continues to play a significant diplomatic role, recently becoming one of the highest-ranking Arab officials to meet with Iranian President Pezeshkian.

After the Iran conflict began in February, the Crown Prince, Lunate CEO Jassim Bouataba Al Zaabi, and other Abu Dhabi officials emphasized the focus on securing national infrastructure in discussions with Wall Street bosses such as BlackRock's Larry Fink.

By May, the wealth fund had reached agreements with BlackRock, Singapore's Temasek, and state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to jointly target up to $30 billion in infrastructure investments for energy transport, logistics, and water.

$30 Billion Partnership with BlackRock and Others, But Risks Abound

The deal was an early sign of Sheikh Khaled's status as Crown Prince of an emirate with $2 trillion in sovereign wealth, and his new push into critical commodity infrastructure. Abu Dhabi's royal family's efforts to help reduce the world's dependence on Hormuz would strengthen Trump's position against Iran and provide new profit avenues for foreign asset managers.

But ensuring the emirate's commodities reach markets around the world has implications for global markets, and this push is also fraught with risk. Iran's military threat to regional infrastructure remains a concern that could upend its multibillion-dollar plans. Transporting commodities over longer distances is challenging, and Abu Dhabi's expanded port areas have previously been hit by Iranian ballistic projectiles.

Saudi Experience Highlights Importance and Risks of Circumvention

Eliminating dependence on critical global waterways is a daunting task. Saudi Arabia's experience highlights both the importance and the risks of bypass routes. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed to bypass the strait by expanding pipelines to Red Sea ports. However, after being attacked by pro-Iranian militias, Saudi Arabia had to temporarily shut down this key alternative route to Hormuz in recent weeks.

Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince "has a security background and has been given more diplomatic tasks in recent years, so critical infrastructure seems a natural area for him to take charge of," said Steffen Hertog, a professor at the London School of Economics. "In my view, the key challenge is that even the UAE's eastern ports are close to Iran and within range of drones and short-range missiles."

Fujairah Port Becomes Expansion Focus, But Also Within Iran's Strike Range

The Crown Prince and his tight circle of officials may now be particularly focused on expanding the port of Fujairah, an emirate coastal city located outside the Strait of Hormuz, facing the Gulf of Oman. Lunate's efforts are just part of the UAE's broader push, with other entities such as oil giant Adnoc and Dubai port giant DP World also advancing projects to help bypass Hormuz.

The Crown Prince is also chairman of Adnoc's board executive committee, and the company is building a second oil pipeline that will double export capacity through Fujairah. At a May meeting, he instructed the company to accelerate delivery of the project.

Gulf states including the UAE have pushed for more dialogue and diplomacy with Iran. Nevertheless, commercial vessels continue to face missile and drone attacks inside and outside the Persian Gulf, causing widespread damage, death, and injury. The UAE's foreign trade minister said in a June interview that the country wants to move toward zero Hormuz dependence, regardless of whether the strait remains open.

US Treasury Secretary Predicts Hormuz Will Become a "Useless Waterway," But Qatar's Energy Minister Calls It "Completely Wrong"

US Treasury Secretary Bessent predicted that within two years, Hormuz "will be like a useless waterway" because it will be bypassed by oil pipelines. That is easier said than done. The Iran conflict has lasted for months with no end in sight. Even Qatar's energy minister described Bessent's view as "completely wrong."

The UAE's Fujairah also came under Iranian attack during the peak of the conflict. In March, debris from intercepted drones sparked a major fire at the oil trading hub. Although Iranian attacks on UAE assets appear to have diminished in recent months, tensions between the two countries escalated again in August, with the UAE saying it would cut all economic ties with Tehran after accusing Iran of firing ballistic missiles at its territory.

Editor's Summary

Abu Dhabi is advancing its zero Hormuz strategy through the Crown Prince-led Lunate fund, joining forces with international capital to accelerate the layout of alternative infrastructure, aiming to enhance the resilience of energy and commodity exports. The move has both geopolitical and commercial significance, but it faces security threats, cost challenges, and execution uncertainty, and its actual effectiveness still depends on the trajectory of the conflict and the progress of project implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Abu Dhabi's "zero Hormuz" strategy?

A: The strategy aims to minimize dependence on the Strait of Hormuz by expanding pipelines, ports, and logistics facilities, ensuring that exports of crude oil, petrochemical products, and other commodities can continue normally even if the strait is blocked. The core is developing alternative channels such as Fujairah, located outside the strait.

Q: What role does the Lunate fund play in this?

A: Lunate is an approximately $300 billion sovereign wealth fund led by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled and has become a key tool for promoting related infrastructure investment. It is cooperating with BlackRock, Temasek, and Adnoc, targeting up to $30 billion in investments covering energy transport, logistics, and water.

Q: Why choose Fujairah Port as the focus?

A: Fujairah is located outside the Strait of Hormuz, facing the Gulf of Oman, and is already connected by pipelines, making it usable as a bypass export route. Adnoc is building a second pipeline to double its export capacity, while port expansion is also underway to support larger-scale commodity shipments.

Q: What are the main risks facing this strategy?

A: Iran's military threat remains, and eastern ports could still be attacked by drones or missiles; long-distance transport costs are high; Saudi Arabia's alternative pipeline was forced to shut down due to attacks, showing security vulnerabilities. The ongoing conflict also increases project uncertainty.

Q: How does international cooperation support this strategy?

A: Cooperation with BlackRock, Temasek, and others not only provides capital but also brings professional management experience, helping accelerate project implementation and creating opportunities for global investors to participate in key Middle East infrastructure, while strengthening the UAE's position in the energy supply chain.