Iran effectively closed the strait to US and allied vessels starting March 2, 2026, following US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Iran is permitting selective passages for non-aligned nations (India, Turkey, China) while attacking Western-aligned vessels. Traffic has dropped to near-zero with only handful of transits daily.
Elsewhere reports:
Over 350 ships stranded as Hormuz crisis sparks global supply, inflation fears
A tanker sits anchored as the traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman.. Photo: Reuters
In the UAE, Jebel Ali Port has emerged as a temporary refuge for dozens of ships, while others remain anchored offshore awaiting security clearance or insurance coverage
Dubai’s flagship maritime gateway, Jebel Ali Port, remains fully operational despite a decline in inbound vessel traffic as regional maritime conditions continue to affect shipping routes through the Gulf.
Port operator DP World confirmed that the port’s infrastructure has not sustained damage and that operations across terminals are continuing normally.
However, incoming vessel calls have decreased as shipping lines adjust schedules and routing decisions amid ongoing regional tensions affecting maritime corridors.
Rerouting measures
DP World stated that contingency planning and operational adjustments are underway to ensure supply chain continuity despite reduced vessel arrivals.
Group CEO Yuvraj Narayan indicated that the company is implementing regional rerouting strategies alongside mitigation measures to maintain logistics flows across its network.
The operator explained that logistical and security considerations remain elevated for both port operators and shipping companies operating in the region.
Shipping lines have begun evaluating alternative routes and operational adjustments to reduce exposure to disruptions along major maritime corridors.
Ports outside the Strait of Hormuz, including Port of Khorfakkan and Port of Fujairah, provide alternative maritime access to the UAE.
However, their container handling capacity remains significantly lower than Jebel Ali’s throughput levels, limiting their ability to absorb large scale cargo diversions.
Strong financial performance
Despite the operational challenges, DP World reported strong financial results for the previous year. Profit attributable to company owners rose nearly 43% to $1.07bn, supported by robust performance across its global ports, terminals and logistics divisions.
Uncertainty:
Iranian missile strike shuts down Middle East’s largest container port
Dubai authorities say fire was a result of Iranian attack being intercepted
Smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike on Sunday.
DP World’s Jebel Ali Port, the largest container port in the Middle East, was forced to close after being hit by missile debris.
The Dubai-based ports and logistics group said all four terminals there are now fully operational after a temporary “precautionary suspension” of activities on Sunday that is thought to be related to damage caused by Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Gulf countries.
Video footage posted on social media on Sunday showed an explosion believed to be inside the port that produced a giant fireball rising dozens of feet in the air.
Retired, living in the Scottish Borders after living most of my life in cities in England. I can now indulge my interest in all aspects of living close to nature in a wild landscape. I live on what was once the Iapetus Ocean which took millions of years to travel from the Southern Hemisphere to here in the Northern Hemisphere. That set me thinking and questioning and seeking answers.
In 1998 I co-wrote Millennium Countdown (US)/ A Business Guide to the Year 2000 (UK) see https://www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn/9780749427917
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