Fujairah Oil Terminals Restart Activities Following Drone Strike

Fujairah Oil Hub Operations Recover After Recent Attacks

Following inspirational disruptions earlier this week, activities at the United Arab Emirates’ major oil storage and refuelling shared in Fujairah are steadily resuming. Loading operations at several terminals were interrupted due to the incidents, but the situation is now gradually stabilizing.

According to sources in the shipping and trading sectors, most storage facilities and berths at the Fujairah Oil Tanker Terminal (FOTT) have restarted operations. Reports from shipping agents confirm that all berths at Oil Terminal 1 and the VLCC jetty are now active, and several berths at Oil Terminal 2 have also begun receiving vessels again.

The restoration of operations comes after a March 9 incident, when debris from a drone intercepted by UAE air defenses landed within the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, igniting a fire that damaged oil storage infrastructure. Authorities managed to contain the blaze quickly, but as a precaution, several terminals temporarily halted their activities.

FOTT, with a storage capacity of approximately 1.18 million cubic meters, is a central hub for crude oil loading in the emirate. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, some terminal operators paused loadings, and bunker terminals stopped transferring fuel to barges, which led to a tighter supply of marine fuel for ships in the region. Limited bunkering continued using existing barge inventories, but suppliers were unable to replenish stocks until terminals fully resumed operations.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), the state energy giant, has since notified international partners involved in Murban crude production that they may now proceed with loading certain March shipments from Fujairah, indicating a return to more regular operations.

However, not all facilities are back online. The Mena Fujairah Terminal remains shut after drone debris damaged its naphtha tanks, and bunker suppliers are still waiting for approval to restart barge operations at the Vopak Horizon terminal.

Fujairah’s Strategic Importance

Located just outside the Strait of Hormuz on the Gulf of Oman, Fujairah is among the world’s largest oil storage and ship refuelling centres. The port serves as a vital refuelling point for vessels navigating between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Market Impact and Ongoing Caution

The temporary halt in operations earlier this week led to reduced availability of bunker fuel and a rise in regional marine fuel prices. Traders noted fewer offers and increased caution among suppliers.

Industry experts report that companies are maintaining a cautious approach as regional tensions persist, closely monitoring security around key energy infrastructure and shipping lanes in the Gulf.