UAE Navigates Hormuz Shadow Route to Keep Gulf Oil Flowing

The UAE’s ADNOC reportedly moved at least 6 million barrels of Upper Zakum and Das crude through the Strait of Hormuz in April using four tankers with AIS transponders off, a ghost-fleet tactic to dodge Iran’s blockade; Iran retaliated by striking an empty ADNOC tanker, and ADNOC plans May loadings via ship-to-ship transfers, signaling the UAE remains active as other Gulf producers pull back, a pattern that could define oil flows for the near term.