At the center of this response is the East-West pipeline, a 1,200-kilometer network linking Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Built in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq war, the pipeline was designed to provide an alternative export route in case of disruptions in the Gulf—precisely the scenario now unfolding. A critical release valve for global supplyThe activation of the pipeline comes as approximately 20 million barrels per day—about one-fifth of global oil consumption—are typically transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Ongoing risks to infrastructureDespite its strategic importance, the East-West pipeline route remains vulnerable. A test of long-term planningFor Saudi Arabia, the situation highlights the importance of strategic foresight.

Source: Daily News Egypt March 22, 2026 20:31 UTC