15 July 2012, the Arab Peninsula principalities, known as United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced the operation of a pipeline avoiding the Strait of Hormuz (which could be shut down).

The 400 kilometer (248.5 mile) long Abu Dhabi Crude Oil pipeline connects the Habshan oil fields on the Persian Gulf side of the Strait of Hormuz, with the port city of Fujairah, which is on the Indian Ocean side of the Strait.

The pipeline can flow up to 1.8 million barrels of oil daily, about 70% of UAE’s production.

Japanese officials are happy, because the UAE is Japan’s second biggest source of petroleum.  Saudi Arabia is number one, Iran number three.