April 3, 2026

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

April 3rd, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension is escalating. Three new strikes on 1 April define this cycle and materially expand the geographic threat footprint across the GCC. First: Iran fired a cruise missile at a QatarEnergy-contracted tanker off Qatar’s coast, evacuating the 21-member crew without casualties. This is the first confirmed cruise missile strike on a QatarEnergy vessel and introduces a new direct threat dimension for Qatar maritime approaches and the Doha energy corridor. Second: an Iranian drone struck a fuel storage tank at Kuwait International Airport on 1 April, sparking a major fire. Combined with the 28 March radar destruction, KWI now has both its radar infrastructure and fuel supply compromised — any prospect of near-term airport recovery is further set back. Third: an Iranian drone interception killed a civilian in Fujairah on 1 April — the first confirmed civilian fatality from drone debris in the UAE. Fujairah’s risk profile deteriorates further. On the diplomatic horizon: Trump addressed the nation on Operation Epic Fury, stating the US may exit the war within 2–3 weeks even without a ceasefire, and confirmed the US will not guarantee Hormuz security after withdrawal. Iran has rejected the US 15-point ceasefire plan, and its parliament approved a bill to charge vessels for Hormuz crossings — signaling intent to institutionalize the closure rather than lift it. Only 5–6 ships transited Hormuz on 1 April per S&P Global data. Brent crude remained above USD 103/bbl. Bahrain sounded two incoming missile alerts. DXB enters Day 15 with no Emirates restoration signal; Jeddah congestion is now a confirmed step-change; Salalah CT partial operations holding but providing no meaningful relief to regional capacity.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC — Day 13. Drone-related fire near DXB on 30 March triggered temporary suspension from ~06:30 GST; Emirates inbound diverted to DWC; limited operations resumed after 10:00. Activity remains 60%+ below pre-crisis levels. Emirates has — for the first time — signaled ambitions to scale up “significantly” in early April, subject to security approvals: the first forward restoration signal since the crisis began. Operationally unconfirmed; do not treat as a firm date. Foreign carrier suspensions (Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Air France) extended through May 31. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH remains the most stable UAE air gateway — Etihad limited schedule holding. KWI ESCALATION: radar system disabled by 28 March drone strike; airport fully and indefinitely closed. No repair timeline published — do not route cargo via Kuwait.
SALALAH STATUS CHANGE: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd confirmed gradual restart from 31 March. Crane damaged; operational constraints expected to persist; additional security measures implemented. Vessels en route will continue to call; delays expected. Not viable as primary routing — treat as cautious secondary only. Hapag-Lloyd’s Lisbon Express repositioned as precaution; Sohar remains elevated fallback. Khor Fakkan locked at peak congestion, day 14+. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active. Jeddah is now the single most important contingency hub in the region — volumes intensifying; daily monitoring for saturation signals. US DFC/Chubb $20B Hormuz maritime insurance program “imminent” per US Treasury — but no commercial transits confirmed; shippers publicly skeptical citing crew safety; Hormuz commercially closed. Strait of Hormuz functioning under IRGC-controlled access at Larak Island corridor only; not available for GCC commercial cargo.
JEDDAH SATURATION ADVISORY IMMINENT: Confirmed step-change in congestion — vessel queues and dwell times lengthening materially; saturation advisory threshold within 24–48 hours. Hapag-Lloyd routing all Gulf bookings to Jeddah exclusively; Maersk 10-day cut-off rule in force. QATAR MARITIME THREAT: Iranian cruise missile struck QatarEnergy tanker off Qatar coast (1 April) — Doha Sea approaches now active threat zone; reassess any routing that transits Qatar waters. Sohar remains the Oman fallback with security caveats. Khor Fakkan locked at peak congestion, Day 15+ — not accepting exports. Jebel Ali systemic backlog — DP World emergency land corridors active; unchanged. FUJAIRAH: civilian killed by drone debris (1 April) — risk profile escalating; limited ops only. Abu Dhabi maritime risk elevated — Al Taweelah (EGA) damage confirmed; no port closure.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers discharged in region accruing storage charges daily. Client acceptance of costings must be confirmed immediately. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by driver nationality ban — pre-verify all driver documentation before dispatch. No improvement signal from Qatar Civil Aviation Authority for air operations.
DIESEL SHOCK — PRIORITY ACTION: UAE April 2026 diesel at AED 4.69/litre effective 1 April (+72%). Revise all GCC road freight costings immediately. UAE road network fully normalised — storm and holiday impacts closed. GCC government services and customs at full staffing — clearance timelines at baseline. ZATCA processing at pre-crisis speeds. OMAN: Salalah partial restart from 31 March; assess overland routes to Salalah carefully before committing. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as UAE–Oman option.
Qatar Airways operating limited flights only via IRGC-approved corridor to select European and Asian cities — no published cargo schedule or rates. Clients must plan for continued alternate routing via AUH or RUH indefinitely. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by mandatory driver nationality ban — pre-verify all documentation.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status updates. Standard tracking tools cannot be trusted for client reporting. CWW teams maintain direct carrier contact protocols on all active shipments.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
DIESEL DAY 2 / TRAILER SHORTAGE / BORDER CONGESTION COMPOUNDING: UAE diesel AED 4.69/litre (Day 2) — carrier rate revision surcharges expected from road operators this week; communicate to clients proactively. UAE flatbed trailer shortage intensifying as road absorbs sustained modal shift from sea and air. Sila–Batha border congestion compounding — allow 4–8-hour additional clearance buffer on Saudi-transiting shipments. Kuwait Airport now functionally inoperable (radar destroyed 28 March + fuel depot destroyed 1 April) — no air routing viable to/from Kuwait; remove from all schedules. OMAN: Salalah CT partial ops Day 3; GCT/Liquid Terminal suspended; ISPS Level 2; overland routing to Salalah cautious. Sohar overland with advance security confirmation only. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) in force — mandatory pre-verification on all Qatar-bound moves.
ENERGY AND WAR-RISK WATCH — ESCALATING: UAE diesel AED 4.69/litre Day 2 — carrier rate revision surcharges being issued this week; anticipate updated rate schedules from road operators. Brent crude trading above USD 103/bbl (1 April). War-risk insurance premiums sustained at 3.5–10% of vessel hull value for Hormuz-adjacent voyages; QatarEnergy tanker cruise missile strike (1 April) may prompt further premium adjustments for Qatar/Gulf of Oman approach zones. LC issuance timelines extended 3–5 days with war-risk endorsements standard. Iran parliamentary bill to charge vessels for Hormuz crossing (1 April) creates new potential cost layer for any future Hormuz-adjacent operations. Kuwait Airport fuel depot destroyed (1 April): jet fuel supply chain further disrupted; combined with refinery strikes (19 March), Kuwait aviation fuel constraints now severe. Airfreight surcharges sustained at up to 70%.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — FOTT partially operational; GPS spoofing/jamming advisory (NAVWARN 01/2026) remains active in offshore Fujairah waters entering fourth week with no full recovery signal. Monitoring for full FOTT berth restoration and Vopak SPM resumption. Oman security environment — Salalah partial restart underway from 31 March — adds adjacent consideration to Fujairah corridor risk. Do not treat Fujairah as a safe secondary without direct agent confirmation.
Sohar corridor — remains the primary Oman fallback. With Salalah partially restarting (31 March), Sohar’s role may partially rebalance, but Oman security environment remains elevated and Sohar itself carries war-risk insurance loading. Advance security confirmation required before routing. Monitor vessel access normalisation, container handling capacity, and whether Salalah’s restart draws volumes back from Sohar.
CT PARTIAL — GCT AND LIQUID SUSPENDED (Day 2). Container Terminal operations are holding for a second day but remain constrained. General Cargo Terminal and Liquid Terminal suspended until further notice per latest Inchcape/ISS advisory. ISPS Level 2 in force. MSC has suspended all export bookings from Salalah. All vessels calling must submit letter confirming no Dangerous Goods on board; Dangerous Goods require Ministry of Transport approval prior to port entry. Feeder vessel connectivity remains unreliable — schedules inconsistent; no mainline carrier has returned to regular call pattern. Treat as cautious secondary only; do not commit primary cargo without direct advance confirmation of berth slot and vessel ETA.
Jebel Ali and Jeddah capacity — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active; Jebel Ali vessel backlog systemic and unchanged. Jeddah is the single most critical contingency node in the region — absorbing both Hormuz-closed volumes and now Salalah-reduced volumes; strengthening further as of this cycle. Monitor daily for any Jeddah port authority congestion advisory or processing delay signal. Saudi customs infrastructure (ZATCA) absorbing redistributed volumes; processing normalising. Jeddah congestion ceiling risk: the highest-priority forward watch item for sea freight this week.
Qatar Airways service recovery — still no timeline for resuming cargo acceptance or publication of rates; DOH freight flows remain constrained indefinitely. Driver nationality ban enforcement remains operationally embedded — verify documentation before all Qatar-bound dispatches. No exemptions or operational workarounds confirmed to date.
Strait of Hormuz — US DFC/Chubb $20B maritime reinsurance programme confirmed “imminent” by US Treasury Secretary Bessent; Chubb named as lead underwriter. However: no US Navy-escorted commercial transit has occurred; shipping industry leaders publicly skeptical; crew safety — not insurance cost — identified as the primary barrier. P&I brokers report war-risk quotes range from 3.5%–10% of hull value per voyage with 12-hour validity windows. IEA confirms diesel and jet fuel benchmark prices more than doubled in Asian markets since Hormuz closure. Monitoring for first confirmed commercial transit under DFC cover — a breakthrough event that would signal potential corridor reopening. Bab el-Mandeb: Houthi activity watch active as Red Sea volumes re-concentrate through Jeddah/Aqaba.
UAE diesel cost shock and Saudi redistribution — April 2026 UAE diesel at AED 4.69/litre effective 1 April (+72%). All GCC road freight rates and client contracts must be revisited immediately. Saudi Arabia continues to function as the de facto regional logistics hub — Jeddah bearing the full weight of sea freight diversion; Riyadh absorbing air freight redistribution. ZATCA clearance processing normalised. Saudi pipeline bypass (Aramco Yanbu crude line) now the primary outlet for Gulf crude — monitor for capacity constraints as Yanbu volumes increase.
Insurance War Risk premiums — P&I brokers report Hormuz-adjacent voyage quotes at 3.5%–10% of hull value (hourly volatility); quote validity narrowed to 12 hours. US DFC/Chubb $20B programme imminent but not yet operational for commercial transits. UAE diesel AED 4.69/litre from 1 April directly pressures road freight insurance loading benchmarks. Monitor for first DFC-covered transit as a potential market-softening signal.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
DXB/DWC Day 13 — drone-related fire 30 March caused morning suspension and DWC diversions; limited ops resumed 10:00 GST. Emirates signals early April scale-up intent — first forward-looking statement since crisis began; subject to security approval; treat as directional only. KWI FULLY CLOSED: radar disabled by 28 March strike with no repair timeline — remove Kuwait from all routing options until further notice. Abu Dhabi: Al Taweelah (EGA) damage confirmed; Zayed Port and Abu Dhabi road/industrial supply chains under continued monitoring — no confirmed port disruption. AUH remains the most stable UAE gateway.

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB Day 15 — structural disruption, no Emirates restoration timeline; scale-up signal from 31 March remains operationally unconfirmed. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH most stable UAE gateway; Etihad limited schedule holding. KWI CLOSED: radar disabled, no reopening timeline — remove from routing. DOH controlled operations only. Foreign carrier suspensions (Lufthansa, BA, Air France) extended through May 31. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules; capacity case-by-case, no published rates. Clients should maintain alternate routing through RUH and JED as primary planning assumptions.

Ocean Freight

Jeddah saturation advisory is imminent — confirmed step-change in vessel queues and dwell times; monitor twice-daily and pre-arrange distribution. QatarEnergy tanker cruise missile strikes off Qatar (1 April): Qatar maritime approach active threat zone. Fujairah civilian fatality from drone debris (1 April): risk escalating. SALALAH: CT holding Day 3 but GCT/Liquid Terminal suspended; ISPS Level 2; MSC export bookings suspended; cautious secondary only. Sohar fallback with security caveats. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency corridors active. Khor Fakkan at 100%+ congestion, Day 15+; not accepting exports. Fujairah FOTT partial ops; NAVWARN active fifth week; risk escalating. Abu Dhabi maritime risk elevated — Al Taweelah damage confirmed; no port closure. Hormuz: institutionalisation confirmed via Iranian parliamentary bill (1 April); 5–6 transits only on 1 April. Cape of Good Hope routing is the standard for all non-Gulf cargo. Kuwait jet fuel disruption: refinery strikes ongoing; airport fuel depot now also destroyed (1 April).

Road Freight

UAE DIESEL DAY 2 — COST EMBEDDED: AED 4.69/litre in force; carrier rate revision notices being issued this week. Alert all clients with active or pending road shipments immediately. UAE flatbed trailer shortage intensifying — secure trailer capacity in advance. Sila–Batha border congestion compounding — allow 4–8-hour additional clearance buffer on Saudi-transiting shipments. Corridor pressure building as air and sea displacement sustains modal shift to road. Saudi Arabia remains the de facto regional logistics hub; redistribution volumes accelerating. OMAN: Salalah CT partial ops Day 3; overland routing to/via Salalah cautious — ISPS Level 2; GCT suspended. Sohar overland with advance security confirmation only. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as UAE–Oman option. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) operationally embedded — pre-verify all driver documentation. Kuwait Airport now functionally inoperable (radar + fuel depot destroyed) — Kuwait–Iraq corridor: high risk; avoid unless no alternative. Egypt transit route viable GCC alternative via Red Sea.
POST-HOLIDAY RESOLVED: GCC government staffing and customs bodies at full normal capacity — clearance timelines at baseline. Banking, SWIFT, and LC processing at pre-crisis norms. Residual holiday backlog is now substantially cleared. Trucking availability fully restored as drivers have returned. UAE road network normalised. No further holiday buffer advisory required

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

April 2nd, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Operational Update

DXB/DWC — Day 13. Drone-related fire near DXB on 30 March triggered temporary suspension from ~06:30 GST; Emirates inbound diverted to DWC; limited operations resumed after 10:00. Activity remains 60%+ below pre-crisis levels. Emirates has — for the first time — signaled ambitions to scale up “significantly” in early April, subject to security approvals: the first forward restoration signal since the crisis began. Operationally unconfirmed; do not treat as a firm date. Foreign carrier suspensions (Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Air France) extended through May 31. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH remains the most stable UAE air gateway — Etihad limited schedule holding. KWI ESCALATION: radar system disabled by 28 March drone strike; airport fully and indefinitely closed. No repair timeline published — do not route cargo via Kuwait.
SALALAH STATUS CHANGE: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd confirmed gradual restart from 31 March. Crane damaged; operational constraints expected to persist; additional security measures implemented. Vessels en route will continue to call; delays expected. Not viable as primary routing — treat as cautious secondary only. Hapag-Lloyd’s Lisbon Express repositioned as precaution; Sohar remains elevated fallback. Khor Fakkan locked at peak congestion, day 14+. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active. Jeddah is now the single most important contingency hub in the region — volumes intensifying; daily monitoring for saturation signals. US DFC/Chubb $20B Hormuz maritime insurance program “imminent” per US Treasury — but no commercial transits confirmed; shippers publicly skeptical citing crew safety; Hormuz commercially closed. Strait of Hormuz functioning under IRGC-controlled access at Larak Island corridor only; not available for GCC commercial cargo.
JEDDAH SATURATION ADVISORY IMMINENT: Confirmed step-change in congestion — vessel queues and dwell times lengthening materially; saturation advisory threshold within 24–48 hours. Hapag-Lloyd routing all Gulf bookings to Jeddah exclusively; Maersk 10-day cut-off rule in force. QATAR MARITIME THREAT: Iranian cruise missile struck QatarEnergy tanker off Qatar coast (1 April) — Doha Sea approaches now active threat zone; reassess any routing that transits Qatar waters. Sohar remains the Oman fallback with security caveats. Khor Fakkan locked at peak congestion, Day 15+ — not accepting exports. Jebel Ali systemic backlog — DP World emergency land corridors active; unchanged. FUJAIRAH: civilian killed by drone debris (1 April) — risk profile escalating; limited ops only. Abu Dhabi maritime risk elevated — Al Taweelah (EGA) damage confirmed; no port closure.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers discharged in region accruing storage charges daily. Client acceptance of costings must be confirmed immediately. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by driver nationality ban — pre-verify all driver documentation before dispatch. No improvement signal from Qatar Civil Aviation Authority for air operations.
DIESEL SHOCK — PRIORITY ACTION: UAE April 2026 diesel at AED 4.69/litre effective 1 April (+72%). Revise all GCC road freight costings immediately. UAE road network fully normalised — storm and holiday impacts closed. GCC government services and customs at full staffing — clearance timelines at baseline. ZATCA processing at pre-crisis speeds. OMAN: Salalah partial restart from 31 March; assess overland routes to Salalah carefully before committing. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as UAE–Oman option.
Qatar Airways operating limited flights only via IRGC-approved corridor to select European and Asian cities — no published cargo schedule or rates. Clients must plan for continued alternate routing via AUH or RUH indefinitely. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by mandatory driver nationality ban — pre-verify all documentation.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status updates. Standard tracking tools cannot be trusted for client reporting. CWW teams maintain direct carrier contact protocols on all active shipments.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
DIESEL DAY 2 / TRAILER SHORTAGE / BORDER CONGESTION COMPOUNDING: UAE diesel AED 4.69/litre (Day 2) — carrier rate revision surcharges expected from road operators this week; communicate to clients proactively. UAE flatbed trailer shortage intensifying as road absorbs sustained modal shift from sea and air. Sila–Batha border congestion compounding — allow 4–8-hour additional clearance buffer on Saudi-transiting shipments. Kuwait Airport now functionally inoperable (radar destroyed 28 March + fuel depot destroyed 1 April) — no air routing viable to/from Kuwait; remove from all schedules. OMAN: Salalah CT partial ops Day 3; GCT/Liquid Terminal suspended; ISPS Level 2; overland routing to Salalah cautious. Sohar overland with advance security confirmation only. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) in force — mandatory pre-verification on all Qatar-bound moves.
ENERGY AND WAR-RISK WATCH — ESCALATING: UAE diesel AED 4.69/litre Day 2 — carrier rate revision surcharges being issued this week; anticipate updated rate schedules from road operators. Brent crude trading above USD 103/bbl (1 April). War-risk insurance premiums sustained at 3.5–10% of vessel hull value for Hormuz-adjacent voyages; QatarEnergy tanker cruise missile strike (1 April) may prompt further premium adjustments for Qatar/Gulf of Oman approach zones. LC issuance timelines extended 3–5 days with war-risk endorsements standard. Iran parliamentary bill to charge vessels for Hormuz crossing (1 April) creates new potential cost layer for any future Hormuz-adjacent operations. Kuwait Airport fuel depot destroyed (1 April): jet fuel supply chain further disrupted; combined with refinery strikes (19 March), Kuwait aviation fuel constraints now severe. Airfreight surcharges sustained at up to 70%.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — FOTT partially operational; GPS spoofing/jamming advisory (NAVWARN 01/2026) remains active in offshore Fujairah waters entering fourth week with no full recovery signal. Monitoring for full FOTT berth restoration and Vopak SPM resumption. Oman security environment — Salalah partial restart underway from 31 March — adds adjacent consideration to Fujairah corridor risk. Do not treat Fujairah as a safe secondary without direct agent confirmation.
Sohar corridor — remains the primary Oman fallback. With Salalah partially restarting (31 March), Sohar’s role may partially rebalance, but Oman security environment remains elevated and Sohar itself carries war-risk insurance loading. Advance security confirmation required before routing. Monitor vessel access normalisation, container handling capacity, and whether Salalah’s restart draws volumes back from Sohar.
CT PARTIAL — GCT AND LIQUID SUSPENDED (Day 2). Container Terminal operations are holding for a second day but remain constrained. General Cargo Terminal and Liquid Terminal suspended until further notice per latest Inchcape/ISS advisory. ISPS Level 2 in force. MSC has suspended all export bookings from Salalah. All vessels calling must submit letter confirming no Dangerous Goods on board; Dangerous Goods require Ministry of Transport approval prior to port entry. Feeder vessel connectivity remains unreliable — schedules inconsistent; no mainline carrier has returned to regular call pattern. Treat as cautious secondary only; do not commit primary cargo without direct advance confirmation of berth slot and vessel ETA.
Jebel Ali and Jeddah capacity — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active; Jebel Ali vessel backlog systemic and unchanged. Jeddah is the single most critical contingency node in the region — absorbing both Hormuz-closed volumes and now Salalah-reduced volumes; strengthening further as of this cycle. Monitor daily for any Jeddah port authority congestion advisory or processing delay signal. Saudi customs infrastructure (ZATCA) absorbing redistributed volumes; processing normalising. Jeddah congestion ceiling risk: the highest-priority forward watch item for sea freight this week.
Qatar Airways service recovery — still no timeline for resuming cargo acceptance or publication of rates; DOH freight flows remain constrained indefinitely. Driver nationality ban enforcement remains operationally embedded — verify documentation before all Qatar-bound dispatches. No exemptions or operational workarounds confirmed to date.
Strait of Hormuz — US DFC/Chubb $20B maritime reinsurance programme confirmed “imminent” by US Treasury Secretary Bessent; Chubb named as lead underwriter. However: no US Navy-escorted commercial transit has occurred; shipping industry leaders publicly skeptical; crew safety — not insurance cost — identified as the primary barrier. P&I brokers report war-risk quotes range from 3.5%–10% of hull value per voyage with 12-hour validity windows. IEA confirms diesel and jet fuel benchmark prices more than doubled in Asian markets since Hormuz closure. Monitoring for first confirmed commercial transit under DFC cover — a breakthrough event that would signal potential corridor reopening. Bab el-Mandeb: Houthi activity watch active as Red Sea volumes re-concentrate through Jeddah/Aqaba.
UAE diesel cost shock and Saudi redistribution — April 2026 UAE diesel at AED 4.69/litre effective 1 April (+72%). All GCC road freight rates and client contracts must be revisited immediately. Saudi Arabia continues to function as the de facto regional logistics hub — Jeddah bearing the full weight of sea freight diversion; Riyadh absorbing air freight redistribution. ZATCA clearance processing normalised. Saudi pipeline bypass (Aramco Yanbu crude line) now the primary outlet for Gulf crude — monitor for capacity constraints as Yanbu volumes increase.
Insurance War Risk premiums — P&I brokers report Hormuz-adjacent voyage quotes at 3.5%–10% of hull value (hourly volatility); quote validity narrowed to 12 hours. US DFC/Chubb $20B programme imminent but not yet operational for commercial transits. UAE diesel AED 4.69/litre from 1 April directly pressures road freight insurance loading benchmarks. Monitor for first DFC-covered transit as a potential market-softening signal.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
DXB/DWC Day 13 — drone-related fire 30 March caused morning suspension and DWC diversions; limited ops resumed 10:00 GST. Emirates signals early April scale-up intent — first forward-looking statement since crisis began; subject to security approval; treat as directional only. KWI FULLY CLOSED: radar disabled by 28 March strike with no repair timeline — remove Kuwait from all routing options until further notice. Abu Dhabi: Al Taweelah (EGA) damage confirmed; Zayed Port and Abu Dhabi road/industrial supply chains under continued monitoring — no confirmed port disruption. AUH remains the most stable UAE gateway.

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB Day 15 — structural disruption, no Emirates restoration timeline; scale-up signal from 31 March remains operationally unconfirmed. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH most stable UAE gateway; Etihad limited schedule holding. KWI CLOSED: radar disabled, no reopening timeline — remove from routing. DOH controlled operations only. Foreign carrier suspensions (Lufthansa, BA, Air France) extended through May 31. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules; capacity case-by-case, no published rates. Clients should maintain alternate routing through RUH and JED as primary planning assumptions.

Ocean Freight

Jeddah saturation advisory is imminent — confirmed step-change in vessel queues and dwell times; monitor twice-daily and pre-arrange distribution. QatarEnergy tanker cruise missile strikes off Qatar (1 April): Qatar maritime approach active threat zone. Fujairah civilian fatality from drone debris (1 April): risk escalating. SALALAH: CT holding Day 3 but GCT/Liquid Terminal suspended; ISPS Level 2; MSC export bookings suspended; cautious secondary only. Sohar fallback with security caveats. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency corridors active. Khor Fakkan at 100%+ congestion, Day 15+; not accepting exports. Fujairah FOTT partial ops; NAVWARN active fifth week; risk escalating. Abu Dhabi maritime risk elevated — Al Taweelah damage confirmed; no port closure. Hormuz: institutionalisation confirmed via Iranian parliamentary bill (1 April); 5–6 transits only on 1 April. Cape of Good Hope routing is the standard for all non-Gulf cargo. Kuwait jet fuel disruption: refinery strikes ongoing; airport fuel depot now also destroyed (1 April).

Road Freight

UAE DIESEL DAY 2 — COST EMBEDDED: AED 4.69/litre in force; carrier rate revision notices being issued this week. Alert all clients with active or pending road shipments immediately. UAE flatbed trailer shortage intensifying — secure trailer capacity in advance. Sila–Batha border congestion compounding — allow 4–8-hour additional clearance buffer on Saudi-transiting shipments. Corridor pressure building as air and sea displacement sustains modal shift to road. Saudi Arabia remains the de facto regional logistics hub; redistribution volumes accelerating. OMAN: Salalah CT partial ops Day 3; overland routing to/via Salalah cautious — ISPS Level 2; GCT suspended. Sohar overland with advance security confirmation only. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as UAE–Oman option. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) operationally embedded — pre-verify all driver documentation. Kuwait Airport now functionally inoperable (radar + fuel depot destroyed) — Kuwait–Iraq corridor: high risk; avoid unless no alternative. Egypt transit route viable GCC alternative via Red Sea.
POST-HOLIDAY RESOLVED: GCC government staffing and customs bodies at full normal capacity — clearance timelines at baseline. Banking, SWIFT, and LC processing at pre-crisis norms. Residual holiday backlog is now substantially cleared. Trucking availability fully restored as drivers have returned. UAE road network normalised. No further holiday buffer advisory required.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

April 1st, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains critical. Three defining developments mark this cycle. First: the IEA issued its starkest supply warning yet on 1 April, with Executive Director Fatih Birol stating that April supply losses will be double those of March, as the final pre-war pipeline inventory is now exhausted. Oil executives have warned separately that if Hormuz is not reopened by mid-April, significantly worse disruptions will become unavoidable. The strategic freight implication is that cost and availability conditions are about to deteriorate further, not stabilize. Second: a Kuwaiti-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier, the Al Salami, was struck by an Iranian drone while at anchor at the Port of Dubai on 31 March, causing a fire. This is the first confirmed hostile strike on a vessel within UAE port anchorage waters and directly elevates the risk profile for Jebel Ali and surrounding approach zones. Third: Brent crude closed March having surged over 60% — the largest single monthly gain since records began — settling at approximately USD 112–114 per barrel. Energy costs for all freight modes are now structurally elevated. On the air corridor: DXB enters Day 14 with no new Emirates restoration timeline published. The early April scale-up signal from 31 March remains aspirational and operationally unconfirmed. KWI (Kuwait) radar remains disabled; airport fully closed with no repair timeline. Salalah CT operations are holding cautiously, but GCT and Liquid Terminal remain suspended; port is not reliable for primary routing. Jeddah continues to absorb the full regional contingency load and congestion is building materially. The flatbed trailer shortage risk for UAE is no longer theoretical — it is now actively materializing. Sila–Batha border delays are confirmed and built.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC — Day 13. Drone-related fire near DXB on 30 March triggered temporary suspension from ~06:30 GST; Emirates inbound diverted to DWC; limited operations resumed after 10:00. Activity remains 60%+ below pre-crisis levels. Emirates has — for the first time — signal ambitions to scale up “significantly” in early April, subject to security approvals: the first forward restoration signal since the crisis began. Operationally unconfirmed; do not treat as a firm date. Foreign carrier suspensions (Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Air France) extended through May 31. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH remains the most stable UAE air gateway — Etihad limited schedule holding. KWI ESCALATION: radar system disabled by 28 March drone strike; airport fully and indefinitely closed. No repair timeline published — do not route cargo via Kuwait.
SALALAH STATUS CHANGE: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd confirmed gradual restart from 31 March. Crane damaged; operational constraints expected to persist; additional security measures implemented. Vessels en route will continue to call; delays expected. Not viable as primary routing — treat as cautious secondary only. Hapag-Lloyd’s Lisbon Express repositioned as precaution; Sohar remains elevated fallback. Khor Fakkan locked at peak congestion, day 14+. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active. Jeddah is now the single most important contingency hub in the region — volumes intensifying; daily monitoring for saturation signals. US DFC/Chubb $20B Hormuz maritime insurance program “imminent” per US Treasury — but no commercial transits confirmed; shippers publicly skepticall citing crew safety; Hormuz commercially closed. Strait of Hormuz functioning under IRGC-controlled access at Larak Island corridor only; not available for GCC commercial cargo.
JEDDAH CONGESTION ESCALATING: Vessel queues and dwell times now lengthening materially. Hapag-Lloyd routing all Gulf bookings to Jeddah exclusively. DHL Life–Science charter deployed on Liège–Jeddah with GCC-wide distribution. Saturation advisory may follow within 48–72 hours. Sohar remains the Oman fallback with security caveats. Khor Fakkan locked at peak congestion, 14+ days — no easing. Jebel Ali systemic backlog — DP World emergency land corridors active; unchanged. Abu Dhabi maritime/industrial risk elevated — Al Taweelah (EGA) damage confirmed; no port closure. Al Salami VLCC strikes at Port of Dubai anchorage (31 March): reassess feeder and anchorage vessel risk for Jebel Ali approaches immediately.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers discharged in region accruing storage charges daily. Client acceptance of costings must be confirmed immediately. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by driver nationality ban — pre-verify all driver documentation before dispatch. No improvement signal from Qatar Civil Aviation Authority for air operations.
DIESEL SHOCK — PRIORITY ACTION: UAE April 2026 diesel at AED 4.69/litre effective 1 April (+72%). Revise all GCC road freight costings immediately. UAE road network fully normalised — storm and holiday impacts closed. GCC government services and customs at full staffing — clearance timelines at baseline. ZATCA processing at pre-crisis speeds. OMAN: Salalah partial restart from 31 March; assess overland routes to Salalah carefully before committing. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as UAE–Oman option.
Qatar Airways operating limited flights only via IRGC-approved corridor to select European and Asian cities — no published cargo schedule or rates. Clients must plan for continued alternate routing via AUH or RUH indefinitely. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by mandatory driver nationality ban — pre-verify all documentation.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status updates. Standard tracking tools cannot be trusted for client reporting. CWW teams maintain direct carrier contact protocols on all active shipments.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
UAE DIESEL NOW IN EFFECT: AED 4.69/litre effective today (1 April, +72%) — all road freight costings must be revised; alert all clients with active or pending road shipments immediately. UAE flatbed trailer shortage actively materializing — prioritize booking trailer capacity in advance. Sila–Batha border congestion confirmed and building — allow extended clearance time on all Saudi-transiting shipments. OMAN: Salalah CT partial restart holding Day 2; overland routing to Salalah remains cautious — ISPS Level 2 in force; GCT/Liquid Terminal suspended. Sohar overland with advance security confirmation only. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) remains in force — mandatory pre-verification of driver documentation on all Qatar-bound moves.
ENERGY COST ESCALATION — APRIL HORIZON: UAE diesel AED 4.69/litre now live (+72%) — direct cost impact on all GCC road freight. IEA warns April oil supply losses will double March as pre-war inventory pipeline is exhausted; energy cost environment is deteriorating, not stabilizing. Brent crude closed March at approximately USD 112–114/bbl, the largest monthly gain on record (+60%+). War-risk insurance premiums sustained at 3.5–10% of vessel hull value for Hormuz-adjacent voyages; airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended 3–5 days with war-risk endorsements standard. Al Salami VLCC drone strike at Port of Dubai anchorage (31 March): immediate review of war-risk coverage for vessels operating in UAE approach waters required. Kuwait jet fuel supply disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) continuing to pressure LR tanker markets and aviation fuel chains

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — FOTT partially operational; GPS spoofing/jamming advisory (NAVWARN 01/2026) remains active in offshore Fujairah waters entering fourth week with no full recovery signal. Monitoring for full FOTT berth restoration and Vopak SPM resumption. Oman security environment — Salalah partial restart underway from 31 March — adds adjacent consideration to Fujairah corridor risk. Do not treat Fujairah as a safe secondary without direct agent confirmation.
Sohar corridor — remains the primary Oman fallback. With Salalah partially restarting (31 March), Sohar’s role may partially rebalance, but Oman security environment remains elevated and Sohar itself carries war-risk insurance loading. Advance security confirmation required before routing. Monitor vessel access normalization, container handling capacity, and whether Salalah’s restart draws volumes back from Sohar.
CT PARTIAL — GCT AND LIQUID SUSPENDED (Day 2). Container Terminal operations are held for a second day but remain constrained. General Cargo Terminal and Liquid Terminal suspended until further notice per latest Inchcape/ISS advisory. ISPS Level 2 in force. MSC has suspended all export bookings from Salalah. All vessels calling must submit letter confirming no Dangerous Goods on board; Dangerous Goods require Ministry of Transport approval prior to port entry. Feeder vessel connectivity remains unreliable — schedules inconsistent; no mainline carrier has returned to regular call pattern. Treat as cautious secondary only; do not commit primary cargo without direct advance confirmation of berth slot and vessel ETA.
Jebel Ali and Jeddah capacity — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active; Jebel Ali vessel backlogs systemic and unchanged. Jeddah is the single most critical contingency node in the region — absorbing both Hormuz-closed volumes and now Salalah-reduced volumes; strengthening further as of this cycle. Monitor daily for any Jeddah port authority congestion advisory or processing delay signal. Saudi customs infrastructure (ZATCA) absorbing redistributed volumes; processing normalizing. Jeddah congestion ceiling risk: the highest-priority forward watch item for sea freight this week.
Qatar Airways service recovery — still no timeline for resuming cargo acceptance or publication of rates; DOH freight flows remain constrained indefinitely. Driver nationality bans enforcement remains operationally embedded — verify documentation before all Qatar-bound dispatches. No exemptions or operational workarounds confirmed to date.
Strait of Hormuz — US DFC/Chubb $20B maritime reinsurance program confirmed “imminent” by US Treasury Secretary Bessent; Chubb named as lead underwriter. However: no US Navy-escorted commercial transit has occurred; shipping industry leaders publicly skeptical crew safety — not insurance cost — identified as the primary barrier. P&I brokers report war-risk quotes range from 3.5%–10% of hull value per voyage with 12-hour validity windows. IEA confirms diesel and jet fuel benchmark prices more than doubled in Asian markets since Hormuz closure. Monitoring for first confirmed commercial transit under DFC cover — a breakthrough event that would signal potential corridor reopening. Bab el-Mandeb: Houthi activity watches active as Red Sea volumes re-concentrate through Jeddah/Aqaba.
UAE diesel cost shock and Saudi redistribution — April 2026 UAE diesel at AED 4.69/litre effective 1 April (+72%). All GCC road freight rates and client contracts must be revisited immediately. Saudi Arabia continues to function as the de facto regional logistics hub — Jeddah bearing the full weight of sea freight diversion; Riyadh absorbing air freight redistribution. ZATCA clearance processing normalized. Saudi pipeline bypass (Aramco Yanbu crude line) now the primary outlet for Gulf crude — monitor for capacity constraints as Yanbu volumes increase.
Insurance War Risk premiums — P&I brokers report Hormuz-adjacent voyage quotes at 3.5%–10% of hull value (hourly volatility); quote validity narrowed to 12 hours. US DFC/Chubb $20B program imminent but not yet operational for commercial transits. UAE diesel AED 4.69/litre from 1 April directly pressures road freight insurance loading benchmarks. Monitor for first DFC-covered transit as a potential market-softening signal.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
DXB/DWC Day 13 — drone-related fire 30 March caused morning suspension and DWC diversions; limited ops resumed 10:00 GST. Emirates signals early April scale-up intent — first forward-looking statement since crisis began; subject to security approval; treat as directional only. KWI FULLY CLOSED: radar disabled by 28 March strike with no repair timeline — remove Kuwait from all routing options until further notice. Abu Dhabi: Al Taweelah (EGA) damage confirmed; Zayed Port and Abu Dhabi Road/industrial supply chains under continued monitoring — no confirmed port disruption. AUH remains the most stable UAE gateway.

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB Day 14 — structural disruption, no Emirates restoration timeline published. Early April scale-up intent unconfirmed; do not adjust bookings or capacity planning on this signal alone. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH most stable UAE gateway — Etihad limited schedule holding. KWI CLOSED: radar disabled, no reopening timeline — remove from routing. DOH controlled operations only. Foreign carrier suspensions (Lufthansa, BA, Air France) extended through May 31. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules; capacity case-by-case, no published rates. Clients should maintain alternate routing through RUH and JED as primary planning assumptions.

Ocean Freight

IEA warns April supply loss will double March — energy and freight cost environment worsening. Al Salami VLCC drone strike at Port of Dubai anchorage on 31 March: reassess feeder and anchorage vessel risk for Jebel Ali approaches immediately. SALALAH: CT holding Day 2 but GCT/Liquid Terminal suspended; ISPS Level 2; MSC export bookings suspended; cautious secondary only. Sohar remains the Oman fallback with security caveats. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency corridors active; unchanged. Khor Fakkan at 100%+ congestion, Day 14+. Fujairah FOTT partial ops; GPS spoofing NAVWARN active fourth week. Abu Dhabi maritime risk elevated — Al Taweelah damage confirmed; no port closure. Jeddah is the single most critical contingency hub — now absorbing Hormuz-closed, Salalah-constrained, and Bab el-Mandeb-avoided volumes. Monitor daily for Jeddah saturation advisory. US DFC/Chubb Hormuz insurance program imminent but no commercial transit yet — shippers skeptical. Hormuz: IRGC-controlled access only, commercially closed. Cape of Good Hope routing is the standard for all non-Gulf cargo. Kuwait jet fuel disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) continuing.

Road Freight

UAE DIESEL IN EFFECT: AED 4.69/litre from today (1 April, +72%) — all GCC road freight costings must be revised immediately; alert all clients with active or pending road shipments. UAE flatbed trailer shortage now actively materializing as cargo displaces road mode. Sila–Batha border congestion confirmed building — allow additional clearance time. Corridor pressure compounding as air and sea displacement continues to drive modal shift to road. Saudi Arabia remains the de facto regional logistics hub; redistribution volumes accelerating. OMAN: Salalah partial restart from 31 March — overland routing to/via Salalah cautious; confirm security status before use. Sohar overland with advance security confirmation only. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as UAE–Oman option. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) operationally embedded — mandatory pre-verification of all driver documentation on Qatar-bound dispatches. Kuwait–Iraq corridor: high risk, significant inspection delays — avoid unless no alternative. Egypt transit route viable GCC alternative via Red Sea.
POST-HOLIDAY RESOLVED: GCC government staffing and customs bodies at full normal capacity — clearance timelines at baseline. Banking, SWIFT, and LC processing at pre-crisis norms. The residual holiday backlog is now substantially cleared. Trucking availability fully restored as drivers have returned. UAE road network is normalized. No further holiday buffer advisory required.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 31st, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains critical. Three significant new developments define this cycle. First: UAE diesel prices for April 2026 were announced today by the Fuel Price Committee — diesel rises 72% from AED 2.72 to AED 4.69 per litre effective 1 April, the largest single-month increase since fuel deregulation. This is an immediate and direct cost shock across all GCC road freight operations and must be communicated to clients with active road shipments without delay. Second: Salalah port has moved to a partial operational restart. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd confirmed gradual resumption of container operations from 31 March following the 28 March drone strike that damaged a ship-to-shore crane. The impacted area is described as limited; operational constraints will persist, and additional security measures have been implemented. The port cannot yet be treated as a primary routing option but is no longer suspended outright. Third: DXB entered Day 13 with a further disruption event — a drone-related fire near the airport on 30 March triggered a temporary suspension from approximately 06:30 GST with Emirates inbound flights diverted to DWC and hours of delays before limited resumption after 10:00. Emirates has for the first time signaled ambitions to scale up significantly in early April, subject to approvals and risk assessments — the first forward-looking restoration signal since the crisis began. This is directionally positive but operationally unconfirmed. On the air corridor: KWI (Kuwait) has deteriorated — the 28 March drone strike disabled the radar system, and the airport is fully and indefinitely closed with no repair timeline published. The US government’s $20 billion DFC/Chubb maritime reinsurance programmed for Hormuz shipping is described as “imminent” by the US Treasury, but no commercial transits have occurred and shippers are publicly skeptical, citing crew safety as the overriding barrier. Hormuz remains commercially closed. Jeddah continues to absorb the regional load and must be monitored daily for saturation. Jebel Ali backlog remains systemic.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC — Day 13. Drone-related fire near DXB on 30 March triggered temporary suspension from ~06:30 GST; Emirates inbound diverted to DWC; limited operations resumed after 10:00. Activity remains 60%+ below pre-crisis levels. Emirates has — for the first time — signaled ambitions to scale up “significantly” in early April subject to security approvals: the first forward restoration signal since the crisis began. Operationally unconfirmed; do not treat as a firm date. Foreign carrier suspensions (Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Air France) extended through May 31. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH remains the most stable UAE air gateway — Etihad limited schedule holding. KWI ESCALATION: radar system disabled by 28 March drone strike; airport fully and indefinitely closed. No repair timeline published — do not route cargo via Kuwait.
SALALAH STATUS CHANGE: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd confirmed gradual restart from 31 March. Crane damaged; operational constraints expected to persist; additional security measures implemented. Vessels en route will continue to call; delays expected. Not viable as primary routing — treat as cautious secondary only. Hapag-Lloyd’s Lisbon Express repositioned as precaution; Sohar remains elevated fallback. Khor Fakkan locked at peak congestion, day 14+. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active. Jeddah is now the single most important contingency hub in the region — volumes intensifying; daily monitoring for saturation signals. US DFC/Chubb $20B Hormuz maritime insurance programmed “imminent” per US Treasury — but no commercial transits confirmed; shippers publicly skeptical citing crew safety; Hormuz commercially closed. Strait of Hormuz functioning under IRGC-controlled access at Larak Island corridor only; not available for GCC commercial cargo.
SALALAH PARTIAL RESTART: Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd confirming gradual resumption from 31 March — operational constraints to persist; crane damaged; not viable as primary route. Sohar remains the Oman fallback with security caveats. Khor Fakkan locked at peak congestion, 14+ days — no easing. Jebel Ali systemic backlog — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active; vessel backlog unchanged. Jeddah is the primary contingency hub absorbing full GCC diversion — strengthening further as Salalah constrained and Hormuz closed; monitor daily for saturation signals. Abu Dhabi maritime/industrial risk elevated — Al Taweelah (EGA) damage confirmed; no port closure, but supply chain knock-on risk active.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers discharged in region accruing storage charges daily. Client acceptance of costings must be confirmed immediately. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by driver nationality ban — pre-verify all driver documentation before dispatch. No improvement signal from Qatar Civil Aviation Authority for air operations.
DIESEL SHOCK — PRIORITY ACTION: UAE April 2026 diesel at AED 4.69/litre effective 1 April (+72%). Revise all GCC road freight costings immediately. UAE road network fully normalised — storm and holiday impacts closed. GCC government services and customs at full staffing — clearance timelines at baseline. ZATCA processing at pre-crisis speeds. OMAN: Salalah partial restart from 31 March; assess overland routes to Salalah carefully before committing. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as UAE–Oman option.
Qatar Airways operating limited flights only via IRGC-approved corridor to select European and Asian cities — no published cargo schedule or rates. Clients must plan for continued alternate routing via AUH or RUH indefinitely. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by mandatory driver nationality ban — pre-verify all documentation.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status updates. Standard tracking tools cannot be trusted for client reporting. CWW teams maintain direct carrier contact protocols on all active shipments.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
UAE DIESEL PRICE SHOCK — IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED: April 2026 UAE fuel prices announced 31 March; diesel rises from AED 2.72 to AED 4.69/litre (+72%) effective 1 April. All road freight costings must be revised before dispatching. Alert clients with active or pending road shipments immediately. Trucking capacity normalized post-holidays. The UAE road network is stable. OMAN: Salalah partial restart underway; overland routing to Salalah remains cautious — security environment still elevated. Sohar overland with advance security confirmation. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) remains in force — mandatory pre-verification of driver documentation on all Qatar-bound moves. Bonded trucking documentation and tariff requirements active on selects corridors.
DIESEL SHOCK — PRIORITY FLAG: UAE April 2026 diesel announced 31 March at AED 4.69/litre (from AED 2.72 in March) — a 72% single-month increase effective 1 April. Largest diesels have increased since UAE fuel deregulation in 2015. Direct and immediate impact on all GCC road freight contract rates, spot quotes, and surcharge frameworks. Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums sustained at 3.5–10% of vessel hull value for Hormuz-adjacent voyages (market range shifting hourly per brokers); airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended 3–5 days. US DFC/Chubb $20B Hormuz reinsurance programmed “imminent” per US Treasury — Chubb confirmed as lead underwriter; no commercial transit yet executed. Shippers citing crew safety — not insurance cost — as primary barrier to Hormuz re-entry. Diesel and jet fuel benchmark prices have more than doubled in Asian markets since Hormuz closure. Kuwait jet fuel supply disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) adding pressure to LR tanker markets and aviation fuel chains.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — FOTT partially operational; GPS spoofing/jamming advisory (NAVWARN 01/2026) remains active in offshore Fujairah waters entering fourth week with no full recovery signal. Monitoring for full FOTT berth restoration and Vopak SPM resumption. Oman security environment — Salalah partial restart underway from 31 March — adds adjacent consideration to Fujairah corridor risk. Do not treat Fujairah as a safe secondary without direct agent confirmation.
Sohar corridor — remains the primary Oman fallback. With Salalah partially restarting (31 March), Sohar’s role may partially rebalance, but Oman security environment remains elevated and Sohar itself carries war-risk insurance loading. Advance security confirmation required before routing. Monitor vessel access normalization, container handling capacity, and whether Salalah’s restart draws volumes back from Sohar.
Salalah port operations — GRADUAL RESTART CONFIRMED (Day 1). Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd confirmed resumption from 31 March. Drone strike on 28 March damaged a ship-to-shore crane; impacted area described as limited; additional security measures now in place. Operational constraints are expected to persist for a period. Hapag-Lloyd’s Lisbon Express relocated as precaution; vessels en route continuing to call with expected delays. Status has changed from SUSPENDED to partial/constrained — do not route primary shipments until capacity and security conditions are confirmed stable. Key watch: pace of recovery, crane repair timeline, further attack risk, and whether Maersk advisory is updated to “fully operational.”
Jebel Ali and Jeddah capacity — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active; Jebel Ali vessel backlogs systemic and unchanged. Jeddah is the single most critical contingency node in the region — absorbing both Hormuz-closed volumes and now Salalah-reduced volumes; strengthening further as of this cycle. Monitor daily for any Jeddah port authority congestion advisory or processing delay signal. Saudi customs infrastructure (ZATCA) absorbing redistributed volumes; processing normalizing. Jeddah congestion ceiling risk: the highest-priority forward watch item for sea freight this week.
Qatar Airways service recovery — still no timeline for resuming cargo acceptance or publication of rates; DOH freight flows remain constrained indefinitely. Driver nationality ban enforcement remains operationally embedded — verify documentation before all Qatar-bound dispatches. No exemptions or operational workarounds confirmed to date.
Strait of Hormuz — US DFC/Chubb $20B maritime reinsurance program confirmed “imminent” by US Treasury Secretary Bessent; Chubb named as lead underwriter. However: no US Navy-escorted commercial transit has occurred; shipping industry leaders publicly skeptical; crew safety — not insurance cost — identified as the primary barrier. P&I brokers report war-risk quotes range from 3.5%–10% of hull value per voyage with 12-hour validity windows. IEA confirms diesel and jet fuel benchmark prices more than doubled in Asian markets since Hormuz closure. Monitoring for first confirmed commercial transit under DFC cover — a breakthrough event that would signal potential corridor reopening. Bab el-Mandeb: Houthi activity watches active as Red Sea volumes re-concentrate through Jeddah/Aqaba.
UAE diesel cost shock and Saudi redistribution — April 2026 UAE diesel at AED 4.69/liter effective 1 April (+72%). All GCC road freight rates and client contracts must be revisited immediately. Saudi Arabia continues to function as the de facto regional logistics hub — Jeddah bearing the full weight of sea freight diversion; Riyadh absorbing air freight redistribution. ZATCA clearance processing is normalized. Saudi pipeline bypass (Aramco Yanbu crude line) now the primary outlet for Gulf crude — monitor for capacity constraints as Yanbu volumes increase.
Insurance War Risk premiums — P&I brokers report Hormuz-adjacent voyage quotes at 3.5%–10% of hull value (hourly volatility); quote validity narrowed to 12 hours. US DFC/Chubb $20B program is imminent but not yet operational for commercial transits. UAE diesel AED 4.69/liter from 1 April directly pressures road freight insurance loading benchmarks. Monitor for first DFC-covered transit as a potential market-softening signal.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
DXB/DWC Day 13 — drone-related fire 30 March caused morning suspension and DWC diversions; limited ops resumed 10:00 GST. Emirates signals early April scale-up intent — first forward-looking statement since crisis began; subject to security approval; treat as directional only. KWI FULLY CLOSED: radar disabled by 28 March strike with no repair timeline — remove Kuwait from all routing options until further notice. Abu Dhabi: Al Taweelah (EGA) damage confirmed; Zayed Port and Abu Dhabi road/industrial supply chains under continued monitoring — no confirmed port disruption. AUH remains the most stable UAE gateway.

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB Day 13 — drone fire 30 March caused temporary morning suspension; DWC used as diversion; limited resumption by 10:00 GST. Emirates signals early April scale-up intent — first forward-looking signal since crisis began; operationally unconfirmed, do not adjust bookings. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH most stable UAE gateway — Etihad limited schedule holding. KWI CLOSED: radar disabled, no reopening timeline — remove from routing. DOH controlled operations only. Foreign carrier suspensions (Lufthansa, BA, Air France) extended through May 31. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules; capacity case-by-case, no published rates. Clients should maintain alternate routing through RUH and JED as primary planning assumptions.

Ocean Freight

Critical pressure sustained with one partial improvement. SALALAH: Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd confirming gradual restarts from 31 March — crane damaged; constraints to persist; not yet primary route. Sohar remains the Oman fallback with security caveats. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency corridors active; unchanged. Khor Fakkan at 100%+ congestion, day 14+. Fujairah FOTT partial ops; GPS jamming NAVWARN active week four. Abu Dhabi maritime risk elevated — Al Taweelah damage confirmed; no port closure. Jeddah is the single most critical contingency hub — now absorbing Hormuz-closed, Salalah-constrained, and Bab el-Mandeb-avoided volumes. Monitor daily for Jeddah saturation advisory. US DFC/Chubb Hormuz insurance programme imminent but no commercial transit yet — shippers sceptical. Hormuz: IRGC-controlled access only, commercially closed. Cape of Good Hope routing is the standard for all non-Gulf cargo. Kuwait jet fuel disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) continuing.

Road Freight

DIESEL SHOCK — IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED: UAE April 2026 diesel announced at AED 4.69/litre (+72% from AED 2.72) effective 1 April — largest single-month increase since UAE fuel deregulation. Revise all GCC road freight costings before dispatching; alert clients with active or pending road shipments. UAE road network is stable. Corridor pressure compounding as air and sea displacement continues to drive modal shift to road. Saudi Arabia remains the de facto regional logistics hub; redistribution volumes accelerating. OMAN: Salalah partial restart from 31 March — overland routing to/via Salalah cautious; confirm security status before use. Sohar overland with advance security confirmation only. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as UAE–Oman option. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) operationally embedded — mandatory pre-verification of all driver documentation on Qatar-bound dispatches. Kuwait–Iraq corridor: high risk, significant inspection delays — avoid unless no alternative. Egypt transit route viable GCC alternative via Red Sea.
POST-HOLIDAY RESOLVED: GCC government staffing and customs bodies at full normal capacity — clearance timelines at baseline. Banking, SWIFT, and LC processing at pre-crisis norms. Residual holiday backlog is now substantially cleared. Trucking availability fully restored as drivers have returned. UAE road network normalised. No further holiday buffer advisory required.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 30th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains critical and has intensified multiple fronts over the weekend. DXB/DWC cargo operations enter Day 12 post-drone strike — the 29 March restoration target has now elapsed without any confirmed recovery, and Emirates remains at approximately 60–65% of pre-war capacity with no new restoration timeline published. The disruption must now be treated as an open-ended structural constraint, not a time-bound recovery event. The most significant new operational development is the drone strike on Salalah port on Saturday 28 March — Maersk temporarily suspended operations following an injury to a worker, and Oman’s foreign ministry confirmed attacks on its territory are under active investigation. Salalah’s prior two-day recovery is reversed: treat as restricted and operationally unreliable. Oman must now be understood as a confirmed live strike zone, not simply a cautionary watch item. Abu Dhabi risk has escalated: missile interception debris caused fires in the emirate, and Reuters confirmed significant structural damage at the Al Taweelah industrial complex (Emirates Global Aluminum). This does not confirm port closure, but Abu Dhabi maritime and industrial supply-chain risk is now elevated and must be tracked closely for knock-on effects. On the maritime front, Hormuz remains structurally closed for commercial flows — Iran’s conditional “non-hostile passage” declaration continues to produce no commercial normalization, and the elapsed US military deadline has produced no forced reopening. Brent Crude’s March move has been reported as the steepest monthly gain on record, reflecting sustained market stress. Jebel Ali congestion remains systemic. Jeddah continues to strengthen as the primary sea contingency hub. The UAE road network has now a substantially normalized post-storm. GCC customs and government services are full staffing.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC cargo structurally constrained — Day 12 post-drone strike. Emirates 29 March restoration target elapsed with no recovery confirmed; treat as open-ended structural constraint at ~60–65% capacity. No new restoration timeline has been published. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH remains the most stable UAE air gateway with Etihad limited schedule holding. Storm and holiday impacts resolved; residual cargo backlog from prior disruption layers still clearing.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain effectively closed for commercial carriers. Hormuz commercial disruption above 90%; US military deadline elapsed with no forced reopening; Brent crude March move reported as steepest monthly gain on record.
Khor Fakkan congestion locked at 100% for 13+ days — vessel queues and dwell times unrelenting. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active; vessel backlog unchanged. Jeddah primary sea contingency — strengthening further; Jeddah now bears the full weight of regional sea diversion; monitor for saturation. SALALAH SUSPENDED: drone strike Saturday 28 March — Maersk halted operations; treat as restricted and unreliable; do not route primary shipments through Salalah until operations confirmed resumed. Sohar elevated as Oman fallback with caution given Oman security environment.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged in region accruing storage charges daily. Client acceptance of costings must be confirmed immediately. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by driver nationality ban — pre-verify all driver documentation before dispatch.
POST-STORM RESOLVED / OMAN RISK ELEVATED: UAE road network normalized — flooding cleared across Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi; transit time estimates reliable. GCC government services and customs at full staffing — clearance timelines at baseline. ZATCA processing returns to pre-crisis speeds. Oman is a confirmed live strike zone — assess security conditions carefully before all Oman routing. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) remains operational as UAE–Oman option.
Qatar Airways operating limited flights only via IRGC-approved corridor to select European and Asian cities — no published cargo schedule or rates. Clients must plan for continued alternate routing via AUH or RUH indefinitely. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by mandatory driver nationality ban — pre-verify all documentation.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status updates. Standard tracking tools cannot be trusted for client reporting. CWW teams maintain direct carrier contact protocols on all active shipments.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage persisting in key corridors — Oman and Fujairah most acute. UAE storm aftermath resolved; truck movements across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi normalised. Post-holiday vendor availability at full baseline as drivers return. OMAN RISK ELEVATED: security environment confirmed deteriorating — Salalah drone strike and wider territory attacks under investigation; assess Oman overland routing carefully. Sohar overland use with advance security confirmation. Bonded trucking documentation and tariff requirements active on selects corridors. Clients should plan for extended resolution timelines on all Oman movements. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as additional UAE–Oman option.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising sharply and now standard on all GCC-routed LCs. Airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended 3–5 days; CWW backup payment channels operational. Kuwait jet fuel supply disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) adding continued pressure to aviation fuel supply chains and LR tanker markets. Oil market stress intensifying — Brent crude March move reported as steepest monthly gain on record; direct implications for war-risk premium trajectory.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — FOTT partially operational; GPS spoofing/jamming advisory (NAVWARN 01/2026) remains active in offshore Fujairah waters entering third week with no full recovery signal. Monitoring for full FOTT berth restoration, Vopak SPM resumption, and any de-escalation of navigation hazards. Oman security deterioration (Salalah strike, territory attacks) adds adjacent risk layer to Fujairah corridor — assess before routing.
Sohar corridor — now the primary Oman fallback following Salalah drone strike and Maersk operational suspension. Expanded war-risk insurance area includes Oman waters; charter and insurance costs elevated. With Oman confirmed as a live strike zone, Sohar must itself be treated with caution — advance security confirmation required before routing. Monitoring vessel access, container handling normalization, and DP World emergency land corridor utilization via Sohar.
Salalah port operations — SUSPENDED. Drone strike Saturday 28 March injured a worker; Maersk temporarily halted operations. The prior two-day improvement (CT and GCT both operational) is reversed. Oman’s foreign ministry confirmed active investigation into attacks on its territory. Treat Salalah as restricted and operationally unreliable until explicit resumption is confirmed. Do not route primary shipments through Salalah. Key watch: confirmation of Maersk resumption, status of other terminal operators, and whether the broader Oman security environment deteriorates further.
Jebel Ali and Jeddah capacity — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active; vessel backlog unchanged and systemic. Jeddah now bears the primary weight of GCC sea freight diversion and is the single most important contingency node in the region. With Salalah suspended and Hormuz closed, Jeddah’s role has strengthened further this weekend — monitoring daily for any saturation or congestion advisory from Jeddah port authorities. Saudi customs infrastructure absorbing redistributed volumes at both Riyadh and Jeddah; ZATCA processing improving.
Qatar Airways service recovery — still no timeline for resuming cargo acceptance or publication of rates; DOH freight flows remain constrained indefinitely. Driver nationality bans enforcement remains operationally embedded — verify documentation before all Qatar-bound dispatches. No exemptions or operational workarounds confirmed to date.
Strait of Hormuz — Iran’s conditional “non-hostile passage” declaration has been standing for multiple days with zero commercial normalisation. US military deadline elapsed with no forced reopening — no diplomatic breakthrough visible. Brent crude March move reported as steepest monthly gain on record; oil market stress intensifying. Monitoring any new diplomatic signals, IRGC vessel incidents, or expansion of shadow fleet transits. Bab el-Mandeb: monitoring for Houthi re-engagement as Red Sea volumes grow via Jeddah/Aqaba corridor.
Saudi customs infrastructure — Riyadh and Jeddah absorbing redistributed GCC volumes with post-holiday staffing now fully normalised. Jeddah bearing the full weight of sea freight diversion with Salalah suspended and Hormuz closed — monitoring daily for congestion advisory or processing delays. ZATCA-linked clearances: processing times improving as staffing returns to full capacity.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
Active threat to UAE port and air infrastructure — DXB cargo recovery: 29 March restoration target has now elapsed with no confirmed recovery; Emirates remains at ~60–65% capacity with no new timeline published; escalating planning horizons accordingly. ABU DHABI: missile interception debris fires confirmed; Al Taweelah industrial complex (EGA) damaged; monitor closely for knock-on effects on Zayed Port and Abu Dhabi Road/industrial supply chains. Post-storm residual cargo backlog at UAE nodes continuing to absorb capacity.

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB cargo Day 12 post-drone strike — Emirates 29 March restoration target elapsed with no recovery confirmed; treat as open-ended structural constraint at ~60–65% capacity; no new timeline available. SHJ fully saturated with delays intensifying. AUH most stable UAE option — Etihad limited schedule holding. DOH and BAS remain severely constrained. Storm and holiday disruptions resolved — ground access normalized. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules; capacity tightly managed case-by-case with no published rates. Clients must escalate planning horizons and confirm alternate routing immediately.

Ocean Freight

Critical pressure sustained and escalated. Jebel Ali backlog fully systemic — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active; vessel backlog unchanged. Khor Fakkan at 100% congestion for 13+ days. Fujairah FOTT partially operational; GPS jamming advisory active — third week with no full recovery. SALALAH SUSPENDED: drone strike Saturday 28 March — Maersk halted operations; treat as restricted and operationally unreliable; do not route primary cargo. Sohar elevated to primary Oman fallback with caution. Abu Dhabi maritime/industrial risk elevated — missile debris fires confirmed; Al Taweelah damage reported. Jeddah is the single most important contingency hub in the region and is strengthening further as Salalah suspends and Hormuz remains closed — monitor daily for saturation signals. Hormuz structurally closed — all diplomacy and elapsed US deadline produced no change; Cape routing is the standard. Bab el-Mandeb fully avoided. Kuwait jet fuel disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) continuing to pressure LR tanker markets.

Road Freight

STORM RESOLVED: UAE road network normalized — flooding cleared across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Transit time estimates reliable; direct driver contacts no longer required as a precautionary measure. Post-storm cargo backlog at UAE nodes continuing to absorb capacity. Corridor pressure compounding as air and sea displacement continues to drive modal shift to road. Saudi redistribution volumes accelerating — Saudi Arabia now the de facto regional logistics hub. OMAN RISK ELEVATED: Salalah drone strike and wider territory attacks confirm Oman as live strike zone — assess all Oman overland routing carefully; Sohar overland with advance security confirmation only. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) operationally embedded — verify driver documentation before all dispatches on Qatar-bound shipments. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) operational as additional UAE–Oman option. Egypt transit route confirmed viable GCC alternative via Red Sea.
POST-HOLIDAY RESOLVED: GCC government staffing and customs bodies at full normal capacity — clearance timelines at baseline. Banking, SWIFT, and LC processing at pre-crisis norms. Residual holiday backlog is now substantially cleared. Trucking availability fully restored as drivers have returned. UAE road network normalized. No further holiday buffer advisory required.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 27th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains critical. DXB/DWC cargo operations enter Day 9 post-drone strike with no recovery signal — backlogs are fully structural and continuing to compound daily. Emirates operating at approximately 60–65% of pre-war capacity; restoration target of 29 March remains in place but remains subject to security conditions. The UAE storm system that peaked yesterday (26 March) is now easing — road flooding is receding, and airport ground access is stabilizing, but residual cargo congestion from the weather event persists alongside the existing conflict-driven backlog. AUH remains the most stable UAE air gateway; Etihad limited schedule holding steady. On the maritime front, Hormuz remains structurally closed for commercial flows with no material change — Iran’s conditional “non-hostile passage” declaration has produced no commercial normalization; the US extended military deadline has now passed its initial extension window with no forced reopening. Jebel Ali congestion remains systemic despite slight improvement in landside movement post-storm; vessel backlog is unchanged. Jeddah is strengthening further as the primary sea contingency hub, but early congestion signals are now building — monitoring closely. Salalah improvement holding; both terminals operational for tactical use. Kuwait jet fuel supply chain remains under pressure following refinery strikes on 19 March. Government services and banking are normalizing progressively.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC cargo severely constrained — Day 9 post-drone strike, structurally embedded. Emirates at ~60–65% capacity with 29 March restoration target — treat this date as aspirational, not confirmed. The UAE storm system is now easing — road flooding receding and airport ground access stabilizing, but residual cargo backlog from storm persists on top of conflict-driven congestion. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH remains the most stable UAE air gateway with Etihad limited schedule holding steady.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain effectively closed for commercial carriers. Only very limited, controlled tanker movements at Hormuz; >95% traffic disruption persists.
Khor Fakkan congestion locked at 100% for 11+ days — vessel queues and dwell times unrelenting. Jebel Ali backlog systemic — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active providing marginal landside relief; vessel backlog unchanged. Jeddah primary sea contingency — early congestion signals now building; vessel queues and dwell times beginning to lengthen; monitor for saturation tipping point in next 48–72 hours. Salalah terminals operational for second consecutive days — use tactically with advance confirmation.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged in region accruing storage charges daily. Client acceptance of costings must be confirmed immediately. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by driver nationality ban — pre-verify all driver documentation before dispatch.
POST-STORM / POST-HOLIDAY: UAE road network recovering — flooding receding across Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi. Ground access normalizing progressively through today. GCC government services and customs bodies now at normal staffing — clearance timelines normalizing. Residual processing backlog from holiday period working through; maintain 24hr buffer through end of week. Banking systems returning to normal processing speeds — SWIFT delays easing. Post-storm residual cargo backlog at UAE nodes will take additional time to clear.
Qatar Airways operating limited flights only via IRGC-approved corridor to select European and Asian cities — no published cargo schedule or rates. Clients must plan for continued alternate routing via AUH or RUH indefinitely. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by mandatory driver nationality ban — pre-verify all documentation.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status updates. Standard tracking tools cannot be trusted for client reporting. CWW teams maintain direct carrier contact protocols on all active shipments.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage persisting in key corridors — Oman, Fujairah and Saudi Arabia most acute. Scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo. UAE storm impact easing — truck movements across Dubai and Sharjah resuming. Post-holiday vendor availability improving as drivers return. Bonded trucking documentation and tariff requirements still being finalized on select corridors. Clients should plan for extended resolution timelines on all Oman and UAE east coast movements. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) now operational as additional UAE–Oman option.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising sharply and now standard on all GCC-routed LCs. Airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended 3–5 days; CWW backup payment channels operational. Kuwait jet fuel supply disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) adding new pressure to aviation fuel supply chains and LR tanker markets.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — FOTT partially operational; GPS spoofing/jamming advisory (NAVWARN 01/2026) now active in offshore Fujairah waters. Monitoring for full FOTT berth restoration, Vopak SPM resumption, and any de-escalation of navigation hazards. Second week of oil-loading disruption with no full recovery signal.
Sohar corridor — expanded war-risk insurance area now includes Oman waters; charter and insurance costs elevated. Monitoring for vessel access improvement, container handling normalization, and impact of DP World emergency land corridor activation on overland demand via Sohar.
Salalah port operations — CT and GCT both confirmed operational for a second consecutive day. Improvement is now classified as sustained, not a one-day event. Monitoring feeder reliability and schedule consistency to determine whether Salalah can be elevated from tactical use to secondary contingency status. Key watch: whether Salalah can absorb meaningful diverted volumes from Jebel Ali/Khor Fakkan without becoming congested itself.
Jebel Ali and Jeddah capacity — DP World emergency land corridors active to Dammam and Sohar; slight post-storm landside improvement but vessel backlog unchanged. Jeddah saturation risk is now the primary escalating watch: vessel queues and dwell times actively lengthening — congestion tipping point could arrive within 48–72 hours. Monitoring daily for any congestion advisory from Jeddah port authorities.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows. Driver nationality ban enforcement: monitoring any exemptions, expansions, or operational workarounds.
Strait of Hormuz — Iran’s conditional “non-hostile passage” declaration now standing for multiple days with zero commercial normalization. The US extended military deadline window has elapsed — no forced reopening materialized. Monitoring any new diplomatic signals, IRGC vessel incidents, or expansion of shadow fleet transits. Bab el-Mandeb: monitoring for Houthi re-engagement as Red Sea volumes grow via Jeddah/Aqaba corridor.
Saudi customs infrastructure — monitoring Riyadh and Jeddah’s ability to absorb redistributed GCC volumes as post-holiday staffing normalizes. Watching for congestion signals at Jeddah as it bears the full weight of sea freight diversion. ZATCA-linked clearances: monitoring for processing time improvement as staffing returns.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
Active threat to UAE port and air infrastructure — DXB recovery timeline (targeting 29 March, now 48hrs away with no progress signal) and residual post-storm backlog at UAE nodes. UAE storm peaked on 26 March and is now easing — monitoring whether ground normalization accelerates or delays DXB cargo recovery trajectory. Zayed Port Abu Dhabi: smoke reported 26 March — monitoring confirmed operational impact.

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB cargo structurally constrained — Day 9 post-strike, Emirates at ~60–65% capacity targeting 29 March restoration (treat as aspirational). UAE storm now easing — ground access stabilizing but residual cargo backlog compounds existing structural constraints. SHJ fully saturated with delays intensifying. AUH most stable UAE option — Etihad limited schedule holding. DOH and BAS remain severely constrained. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules; capacity tightly managed case-by-case with no published rates. Partial ground normalization is expected through the weekend.

Ocean Freight

Critical pressure sustained and evolving. Jebel Ali backlog fully systemic — DP World emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar active; vessel backlog unchanged despite slight landside improvement post-storm. Khor Fakkan at 100% congestion for 11+ days. Fujairah FOTT partially operational; GPS jamming advisory active — second week with no full recovery. Salalah CT and GCT both operational for second consecutive days — use tactically. Jeddah saturation risk now the key escalating watch — vessel queues and dwell times lengthening; congestion tipping point could arrive within 48–72 hours. Hormuz structurally closed — Iran’s conditional passage offer and elapsed US deadline produce no change; Cape routing is the standard. Bab el-Mandeb fully avoided. Kuwait jet fuel disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) continuing to pressure LR tanker markets.

Road Freight

STORM EASING: UAE road network recovering — flooding receding across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Transit time estimates returning to reliability; maintain direct driver contact through the remainder of today. Residual post-storm cargo backlog at UAE nodes will require additional time to clear. Corridor pressure compounding as air/sea displacement continues to drive modal shift to road. Saudi redistribution volumes accelerating — Saudi Arabia now the de facto regional logistics hub. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) operationally embedded — verify driver documentation before all dispatches on Qatar-bound shipments. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Buraimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) now operational as additional UAE–Oman option. Egypt transit route confirmed — viable GCC alternative via Red Sea.
POST-HOLIDAY RETURN: Government staffing normalizing across all corridors — customs processing times improving progressively. Residual backlog from holiday period and storm working through; maintain 24hr buffer through end of week. Trucking capacity from Oman remains constrained but improving as drivers return post-holiday. The UAE road network expected to be substantially normalized by 28 March

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 26th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains critical and is now compounded by a dual disruption: active conflict impact and a major storm system striking the UAE today. DXB/DWC cargo operations enter Day 8 post-drone strike with no recovery signal — backlogs are now fully structural with daily compounding. Emirates operating at approximately 60% of pre-war capacity with a target restoration of 29 March, subject to security conditions. Today’s storm (peak impact Thursday evening through Friday morning) is bringing road flooding, hail, and tornado risk across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah — severely restricting ground access to airports and adding a direct weather disruption layer on top of the active conflict constraints. AUH offers a marginal positive: Etihad has resumed a limited multi-destination schedule, reducing pressure slightly, but capacity remains tightly managed. On the maritime front, Iran has issued a conditional “non-hostile passage” signal to the UN and IMO — but shipping firms remain universally wary and commercial transit through Hormuz remains effectively halted; only six AIS-visible crossings were recorded on 24 March. Crucially, the US has extended its Hormuz military deadline by five days, reducing the risk of immediate escalation but also delaying any forced reopening. Jebel Ali congestion continues to build systemically — DP World has opened emergency land corridors to Saudi Arabia as a relief measure. Salalah shows marginal operational improvement with both container and general cargo terminals now functioning but remains unreliable. Fujairah FOTT is partially operational (not all berths) but GPS spoofing/jamming advisories are now active in offshore Fujairah waters. Kuwait jet fuel supply chain is under pressure following refinery strikes on 19 March at Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdulla. Jeddah continues to deepen as the primary sea contingency hub monitors early congestion signals. Holiday period has formally ended; government services and banking are returning to normal staffing through the week.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC cargo severely constrained — Day 8 post-drone strike, structurally embedded. Emirates at ~60% capacity targeting 29 March restoration. TODAY: Major UAE storms causing severe road flooding across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi — ground access to all UAE airports is severely restricted. Add minimum 2hr buffer to all airport transfers. Storm peak tonight through Friday morning; clearing by Saturday. SHJ is fully saturated. AUH marginal positive with Etihad resuming limited schedule.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain effectively closed for commercial carriers. Only very limited, controlled tanker movements at Hormuz; >95% traffic disruption persists.
Khor Fakkan congestion locked at 100% for 10+ days — vessel queues and dwell times unrelenting. Jebel Ali backlog now systemic — DP World has activated emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar as a relief measure. Jeddah primary sea contingency — monitoring for early capacity ceiling signals as saturation risk grows. Salalah terminals are now operational (positive development) — use tactically with direct confirmation.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged in region accruing storage charges daily. Client acceptance of costings must be confirmed immediately. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by driver nationality ban — pre-verify all driver documentation before dispatch.
POST-HOLIDAY RETURN: GCC government services and customs bodies now resume normal staffing — clearance timelines normalizing progressively through this week. Residual processing backlog working through; build 24hr buffer through Friday. Storm compounds today’s customs broker and trucking access. Banking systems returning to normal processing speeds — SWIFT delays easing.
Qatar Airways operating limited flights only via IRGC-approved corridor to select European and Asian cities — no published cargo schedule or rates. Clients must plan for continued alternate routing via AUH or RUH indefinitely. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by mandatory driver nationality ban — pre-verify all documentation.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status updates. Standard tracking tools cannot be trusted for client reporting. CWW teams maintain direct carrier contact protocols on all active shipments.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage persisting in key corridors — Oman, Fujairah and Saudi Arabia most acute. Scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo. UAE storm today adding acute ground disruption layer — truck movements across Dubai and Sharjah severely impacted. Post-holiday vendor availability is improving gradually. Bonded trucking documentation and tariff requirements still being finalized on select corridors. Clients should plan for extended resolution timelines on all Oman and UAE east coast movements.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising sharply and now standard on all GCC-routed LCs. Airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended 3–5 days; CWW backup payment channels operational. Kuwait jet fuel supply disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) adding new pressure to aviation fuel supply chains and LR tanker markets.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — FOTT partially operational; GPS spoofing/jamming advisory (NAVWARN 01/2026) now active in offshore Fujairah waters. Monitoring for full FOTT berth restoration, Vopak SPM resumption, and any de-escalation of navigation hazards. Second week of oil-loading disruption with no full recovery signal.
Sohar corridor — expanded war-risk insurance area now includes Oman waters; charter and insurance costs elevated. Monitoring for vessel access improvement, container handling normalization, and impact of DP World emergency land corridor activation on overland demand via Sohar.
Salalah port operations — CT and GCT both confirmed operational. Now monitoring feeder reliability and schedule consistency to determine whether Salalah can be elevated from tactical-use to secondary contingency status. Key watch: whether Salalah can absorb meaningful diverted volumes from Jebel Ali/Khor Fakkan without becoming congested itself.
Jebel Ali and Jeddah capacity — DP World emergency land corridors now active to Dammam and Sohar. Monitoring whether overland relief offsets inbound vessel backlog accumulation. Jeddah saturation risk now the primary watch: vessel queues and dwell times beginning to lengthen — watching for congestion tipping point as volumes compound daily.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows. Driver nationality ban enforcement: monitoring any exemptions, expansions, or operational workarounds.
Strait of Hormuz — Iran’s conditional “non-hostile passage” declaration being monitored closely. US extended military deadline by 5 days — watching for any forced reopening timeline, further IRGC attacks on vessels, or expansion of selective passage conditions. Bab el-Mandeb: monitoring for Houthi re-engagement as Red Sea volumes grow.
Saudi customs infrastructure — monitoring Riyadh and Jeddah’s ability to absorb redistributed GCC volumes as post-holiday staffing normalizes. Watching for congestion signals at Jeddah as it bears the full weight of sea freight diversion. ZATCA-linked clearances: monitoring for processing time improvement as staffing returns.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
Active threat to UAE port and air infrastructure — DXB recovery timeline (targeting 29 March) and UAE storm impact on ground operations today. Monitoring whether storm accelerates or delays DXB recovery trajectory. Zayed Port Abu Dhabi: smoke reported 26 March — monitoring for operational impact.

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB cargo structurally constrained — Day 8 post-strike, Emirates at ~60% capacity targeting 29 March restoration. TODAY: UAE storm severely restricting ground access to all UAE airports — add 2hr minimum buffer. SHJ fully saturated with delays intensifying. AUH marginal positive — Etihad resuming limited multi-destination schedule, monitoring for further capacity normalization. DOH and BAS remain severely constrained. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules; capacity tightly managed case-by-case with no published rates. Storm clears by Saturday — partial ground normalization expected from 28 March.

Ocean Freight

Critical pressure sustained. Jebel Ali backlog fully systemic — DP World activating emergency land corridors to Dammam and Sohar. Khor Fakkan at 100% congestion for 10+ days. Fujairah FOTT partially operational; GPS jamming advisory is now active. Positive development: Salalah CT and GCT both confirmed operational — use tactically. Jeddah saturation risks now the key watch — vessel queues beginning to lengthen. Iran’s conditional Hormuz passage offer monitored; no commercial normalisation. Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb structurally closed — Cape routing the standard, not the exception. Kuwait jet fuel disruption (refinery strikes 19 March) adding new LR tanker pressure — monitor for aviation fuel supply chain impact.

Road Freight

STORM ALERT TODAY: UAE road network severely impacted — Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi experiencing major flooding. All UAE road movements today should treat transit time estimates as unreliable. Maintain direct driver contact. Corridor pressure compounding as air/sea displacement continues to drive modal shift to road. Saudi redistribution volumes accelerating — Saudi Arabia now the de facto regional logistics hub. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) operationally embedded — verify driver documentation before all dispatches on Qatar-bound shipments. New Al Rawdah crossing (Al Brahimi/Al Madam–Sharjah) now operational as additional UAE–Oman option. Egypt transit rule confirmed — viable GCC alternative via Red Sea.
POST-HOLIDAY RETURN: Government staffing normalizing across all corridors — customs processing times expected to improve progressively through the end of the week. Residual backlog from holiday period working through; maintain 24hr buffer through Friday. Trucking capacity from Oman remains constrained but improving as drivers return post-holiday. Storm clears by Saturday — UAE road network expected to normalize from 28 March.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 25th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains critical. DXB/DWC cargo operations enter Day 7 post-drone strike with no recovery in sight — backlogs are compounding daily; airline rotations remain severely curtailed, and foreign carrier access continues to be restricted. What began as an acute disruption has now transitioned into a structural constraint, with downstream supply chain impacts hardening across the GCC. Sharjah (SHJ) remains fully saturated without relief capacity; Abu Dhabi (AUH) continues under sustained overflow pressure with capacity tightening further. Jebel Ali congestion is accelerating — the backlog build is no longer incremental; it is becoming systemic as Hormuz-diverted cargo has no efficient outlet. Jeddah is the clear primary sea contingency, and its role is cementing day-on-day. Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain effectively closed to commercial carriers. Fujairah oil-loading disruption persists with no recovery signal. The Middle East holiday period is still active in certain geographies (SA/QR) but winding down through the week — government-linked clearance services operating on skeleton staffing across all corridors, amplifying delays already generated by the conflict disruption. Holiday delay relief is expected in the next week as work schedules return to normal. Booking and pricing remain case-by-case. SWIFT messaging under enhanced scrutiny. War-risk insurance premiums continue to climb.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC cargo severely constrained — Day 7 post-drone strike with disruption now structural. Backlogs compounding daily; no recovery signal. Airlines maintaining curtailed rotations with persistent last-minute changes and restricted foreign carrier access. SHJ fully saturated with delays intensifying. AUH under sustained overflow pressure with capacity continuing to tighten.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain effectively closed for commercial carriers. Only very limited, controlled tanker movements at Hormuz; >95% traffic disruption persists.
Khor Fakkan congestion remains at peak levels — extended delays and vessel queues ongoing. Jebel Ali backlog builds accelerating — transitioning from operational congestion to systemic constraint as Hormuz rerouting inflows continue with no relief. Jeddah designated as primary sea contingency and now the operational default for Gulf-bound cargo.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged in region accruing storage charges daily. Client acceptance of costings must be confirmed immediately. Qatar surface routing additionally constrained by driver nationality ban — pre-verify all driver documentation before dispatch.
HOLIDAY PERIOD STILL ACTIVE — Middle East public holidays in effect across all corridors. Customs, government-linked clearance, and banking services operating on reduced staffing. Clearance timelines extending materially across all border crossings. Build 24–72hr buffer into all transit plans. Expedite documentation and pre-alert consignees on all inbound shipments.
Qatar Airways planning horizon remains unclear — no reliable schedule for operational recovery, requiring clients to plan for extended alternate routing via AUH or RUH. Qatar surface routing now additionally constrained by driver nationality ban.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status updates. Standard tracking tools cannot be trusted for client reporting. CWW teams maintain direct carrier contact protocols on all active shipments.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman, Fujairah and Saudi corridors — scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo. Holiday period further reducing available vendor capacity as drivers return home for the holiday period. Alternative vendors sourced but under competitive pressure.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising sharply; airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended; CWW backup payment channels operational.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — oil-loading resumption timeline now entering second week of disruption; monitoring for any security de-escalation signal or follow-on incidents impacting port access and regional energy supply chain planning.
Sohar corridor — ongoing security constraints, port access reliability, and container handling resumption timeline. Holiday period reducing handling capacity further; monitoring for any vessel access improvement this week.
Salalah port operations — recovery plan and timeline for restoring Oman as a viable contingency routing option.
Jebel Ali backlog build — monitoring for systemic capacity ceiling signals as accumulation accelerates; discharge restriction timeline, container offload alternatives, and whether Jeddah absorbs overflow without itself becoming congested.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows. Driver nationality ban enforcement: monitoring for any exemptions, expansions, or operational workarounds.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — US military escort posture, carrier/insurance authorization for passage, and any new Stop-Voyage declarations.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under holiday period staffing constraints.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
Active threat to UAE port and air infrastructure — DXB recovery timeline and AUH capacity trajectory as overflow continues to build. Risk of AUH downgrade if DXB disruption extends into second week without recovery signal.

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB cargo structurally constrained — Day 7 post-strike with no recovery signal and backlogs compounding. SHJ fully saturated with delays intensifying. AUH under sustained overflow pressure with capacity tightening — monitor for further downgrade risk. DOH and BAS remain severely constrained. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules. Capacity tightly managed case-by-case with no published rates. Holiday period fully active — expect further reductions in carrier staffing and booking responsiveness throughout the period

Ocean Freight

Critical pressure sustained and intensifying. Jebel Ali backlog accumulation accelerating — moving beyond operational congestion toward systemic constraint with no near-term relief in sight. Khor Fakkan sustained peak congestion. Fujairah oil-loading disruption continues — no recovery signal. Jeddah firmly established as primary sea contingency and the operational default for GCC-bound cargo — monitoring early capacity ceiling signals. Salalah marginal stabilization continuing but feeder reliability remains low. Sohar confidence is low. Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb structurally closed to commercial carriers — Cape routing now the standard, not the exception.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing compounding pressure as air/sea displacement drives modal shift to road. Saudi redistribution volumes accelerating — Saudi Arabia now the de facto regional logistics hub. Qatar driver nationality ban (Syrian, Pakistani, Yemeni nationals) operationally embedded — verify driver documentation before all dispatches on Qatar-bound shipments.
HOLIDAY PERIOD ONGOING: Significantly increased customs delays confirmed across all border crossings — holiday period fully active. Build 24–72hr buffer into all border crossings and customs clearance timelines. Fujairah and Oman corridor access further reducing trucking options. Truck capacity from Oman fully constrained. Holiday period expected to persist — maintain enhanced buffers in all transit planning through the period end.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 24th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains critical. DXB/DWC cargo operations remain severely constrained — six days post-drone strike with no meaningful recovery; backlogs persist, and airlines continue last-minute schedule changes. Sharjah (SHJ) has deteriorated further with delays intensifying and zero additional capacity available. AUH cargo status downgraded to Monitor as capacity tightening accelerates under overflow pressure. A new operational restriction is now in effect: Syrian, Pakistani and Yemeni national drivers are barred from entering Qatar — directly impacting Qatar surface routing and road-based freight operations. Jebel Ali congestion is worsening.as well as access restriction for ships outside of the Gulf. Jeddah firmly consolidated as a primary sea contingency hub. Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain effectively closed for commercial carriers. Muscat (MCT) now under indirect pressure from Oman port instability. Basra (BAS) remains severely congested. Booking case-by-case across all GCC hubs; no stable pricing.

HOLIDAY PERIOD ONGOING: Ramadan/Eid holiday period in effect — increased customs delays and reduced government-linked staffing across all corridors. Banking continuity monitoring is ongoing.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC cargo severely constrained — recovery stalled six days post-drone strike. Backlogs persist with limited airline rotations, frequent last-minute changes, and restricted foreign carrier access. SHJ fully saturated with delays intensifying further. AUH downgraded to Monitor as capacity tightening accelerates.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain effectively closed for commercial carriers. Only very limited, controlled tanker movements at Hormuz; >95% traffic disruption persists.
Khor Fakkan congestion remains at peak levels — extended delays and vessel queues ongoing. Jebel Ali congestion worsening further with backlogs building from sustained Hormuz rerouting. Jeddah designated as a primary sea contingency.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged in region accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
HOLIDAY PERIOD ONGOING — Middle East public holidays in effect. Increased customs delays at all border crossings and reduced government-linked staffing. Build 24–72hr buffer into all transit timelines. Expedite documentation and clearances.
Qatar Airways planning horizon remains unclear — no reliable schedule for operational recovery, requiring clients to plan for extended alternate routing via AUH or RUH. Qatar surface routing now additionally constrained by driver nationality ban.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman, Fujairah and Saudi corridors — scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo. Holiday period further reducing available vendor capacity.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising sharply; airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended; CWW backup payment channels operational.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — oil-loading resumption timeline, ongoing security risks, and any follow-on incidents impacting port access.
Sohar corridor — ongoing security constraints, port access reliability, and container handling resumption timeline, potentially this week via feeder vessels.
Salalah port operations — recovery plan and timeline for restoring Oman as a viable contingency routing option.
Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali congestion — discharge restriction timeline, container offload alternatives, and rate at which backlogs are building; Jeddah routing remains primary contingency.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows. Driver nationality ban enforcement: monitoring for any exemptions, expansions, or operational workarounds.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — US military escort posture, carrier/insurance authorization for passage, and any new Stop-Voyage declarations.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under holiday period staffing constraints.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
Active threat to UAE Port infrastructure — and AUH cargo capacity trajectory as overflow from DXB continues to build.

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB cargo severely constrained — recovery stalled six days post-strike with persistent backlogs and continued limited airline rotations. SHJ fully saturated with delays intensifying. AUH downgraded to Monitor — capacity tightening accelerating under overflow pressure. DOH and BAS remain severely constrained. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules. Capacity tightly managed case-by-case. No published rates. Holiday period ongoing — expect continued booking complexity and reduced carrier staffing.

Ocean Freight

Critical pressure sustained and intensifying. Jebel Ali congestion worsening further — backlogs building from sustained Hormuz closure with no near-term relief in sight. Khor Fakkan at peak congestion. Fujairah oil-loading disruption continues with no recovery. Jeddah was firmly established as a primary sea contingency and continues to strengthen. Salalah slight stabilization, but feeder reliability remains low. Sohar confidence is low. Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb effectively closed to commercial carriers.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Saudi redistribution volumes accelerating. NEW: Qatar driver nationality bans in force — Syrian, Pakistani and Yemeni national drivers barred; verify driver documentation before dispatch on all Qatar-bound shipments.
HOLIDAY PERIOD ONGOING: Significantly increased customs delays expected — build 24–72hr buffer into all border crossing timelines. Fujairah and Oman corridor access reducing trucking options. Truck capacity from Oman fully constrained.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 23rd, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains critical. DXB/DWC cargo operations continue under severe constraint — five days post-drone strike; backlogs have not fully cleared, and recovery remains incomplete. Airlines operating limited rotations with frequent last-minute changes. Sharjah (SHJ) is now fully saturated as a UAE diversion airport, with capacity tight and delays increasing. AUH under growing overflow pressure but more stable than DXB. Fujairah oil-loading disruptions and security risks continue with no meaningful recovery — remaining a critical maritime risk node. Salalah shows slight stabilization but remains unreliable for feeder operations. Jeddah further consolidated as the primary sea contingency hub. Jebel Ali congestion is worsening with backlogs building from sustained Hormuz rerouting. Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers. Booking remains case-by-case across all GCC hubs; no stable pricing. HOLIDAY PERIOD ONGOING: Middle East public holidays in effect — increased customs processing delays and reduced government-linked staffing across all corridors. Banking continuity monitoring is ongoing.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC cargo severely constrained — recovery stalled five days post-drone strike. Backlogs persist with limited airline rotations, frequent last-minute changes, and restricted foreign carrier access. SHJ now fully saturated as primary diversion airport.
Fujairah oil-loading remains disrupted — no recovery. Oil loading disruptions and security risks continue. Fujairah remains a major Gulf maritime risk. Status held Restricted/Deteriorating.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers without military escort.
Khor Fakkan congestion remains at peak levels — extended delays and vessel bunching ongoing. Jebel Ali congestion worsening with backlogs building. Jeddah designated as a primary sea contingency.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged in region accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
HOLIDAY PERIOD ONGOING — Middle East public holidays in effect. Increased customs delays at all border crossings and reduced government-linked staffing. Build 24–72hr buffer into all transit timelines. Expedite documentation and clearances.
Qatar Airways planning horizon remains unclear — no reliable schedule for operational recovery, requiring clients to plan for extended alternate routing via AUH or RUH.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman, Fujairah and Saudi corridors — scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo. Holiday period further reducing available vendor capacity.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising sharply; airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended; CWW backup payment channels operational.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah maritime status — oil-loading resumption timeline, ongoing security risks, and any follow-on incidents impacting port access.
Sohar corridor — ongoing security constraints, port access reliability, and container handling resumption timeline.
Salalah port operations — recovery plan and timeline for restoring Oman as a viable contingency routing option.
Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali congestion — discharge restriction timeline, container offload alternatives, and rate at which backlogs are building; Jeddah routing remains primary contingency.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalising DOH freight flows.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — US military escort posture, carrier/insurance authorisation for passage, and any new Stop-Voyage declarations.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under holiday period staffing constraints.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
Active threat to UAE Port infrastructure

Air Freight

Surcharges sustained at up to 70% on key routes. DXB cargo severely constrained — recovery stalled five days post-strike with persistent backlogs and limited airline rotations. SHJ fully saturated as a diversion hub. AUH under overflow pressure but more reliable. DOH and BAS remain severely constrained. Emirates and Etihad on reduced schedules. Capacity tightly managed case-by-case. No published rates. Holiday period ongoing — expect continued booking complexity and reduced carrier staffing.

Ocean Freight

Critical pressure sustained and intensifying. Jebel Ali congestion worsening — backlogs building from sustained Hormuz rerouting with no near-term relief. Khor Fakkan at peak congestion. Fujairah oil-loading disruption continues with no recovery. Jeddah was firmly established as a primary sea contingency and continues to strengthen. Salalah slight stabilization, but feeder reliability is low. Sohar confidence is low. Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb effectively closed to commercial carriers.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Saudi redistribution volumes accelerating.
HOLIDAY PERIOD ONGOING: Significantly increased customs delays expected — build 24–72hr buffer into all border crossing timelines. Fujairah and Oman corridor access reducing trucking options. Truck capacity from Oman fully constrained.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 20th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

There have been no material developments or changes in the Middle East situation since our last published update. The information and analysis provided in the report below remain valid and reflect the current operating environment. We continue to actively monitor the situation and will issue further updates should any significant developments arise.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 19th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 18th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains critical. DXB/DWC continues to absorb significant fallout from yesterday’s drone strike and temporary airspace closure — cargo throughput is severely constrained, and backlogs are clearing through today. Sharjah is actively absorbing diverted UAE traffic. Fujairah’s oil-loading operations remain partially halted; ADNOC loading still suspended, no meaningful recovery. Sohar remains under post-incident security monitoring. Salalah shows slight stabilization but continues unreliable for feeder operations. Jeddah strengthens further as a primary sea fallback hub. Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers. Khor Fakkan congestion persists. Booking remains case-by-case across all GCC hubs; no stable pricing.

HOLIDAY PERIOD: Middle East public holidays are beginning — increased customs processing delays and reduced government-linked staffing should be anticipated across all corridors. Banking continuity monitoring is ongoing.

Operational Update

DXB/DWC cargo severely constrained — ongoing fallout from yesterday’s drone strike with significant delays, cancellations, and restricted foreign carrier access. SHJ elevated as primary diversion airport. Recovery ongoing; backlog expected to clear through today.
Fujairah oil-loading remains halted — ADNOC loading is still suspended, no meaningful recovery. Fire damage and ongoing threat conditions keep Fujairah as a major Gulf maritime risk. Status held Restricted/Deteriorating.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers without military escort.
Khor Fakkan congestion remains elevated — Reported 10+ day delays and long truck queues. Discharge windows tightening. Jeddah designated as a primary sea contingency.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged in region accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
Holiday Period Starting — Middle East public holidays beginning. Significantly increased customs delays are expected at all border crossings. Build 24–72hr buffer into all transit timelines. Expedite documentation and clearances now where possible.
Qatar Airways planning horizon remains unclear — no reliable schedule for operational recovery, requiring clients to plan for extended alternate routing via AUH or RUH.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman, Fujairah and Saudi corridors — scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising sharply; airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended; CWW backup payment channels operational.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah drone fire — scope of damage, oil-loading resumption timeline, wider port access impact and any follow-on security incidents.
Sohar drone incident — ongoing security review, port access status and container handling resumption timeline.
Salalah port operations — recovery plan and timeline for restoring Oman as a viable contingency routing option.
Khor Fakkan congestion — discharge restriction timeline and container offload alternatives; Jeddah routing remains primary contingency.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — US military escort posture, carrier/insurance authorization for passage, and any new Stop-Voyage declarations.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under Ramadan staffing constraints.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
Active threat to UAE Port infrastructure

Air Freight

Surcharges accelerating — up to 70% on key routes. DXB cargo severely constrained following drone strike; backlog clearing through today. SHJ elevated as a diversion hub. Capacity tightly managed case-by-case. No published rates. DOH and BAS remain severely constrained. Emirates on a reduced schedule. Holiday period beginning — expect additional booking complexity and reduced carrier staffing.

Ocean Freight

Critical pressure sustained. Fujairah oil-loading disruption continues with no recovery. Khor Fakkan under heavy congestion — no relief expected. Jeddah remains pre-positioned as a primary sea alternative and continues to strengthen. Salalah slight stabilization, but feeder reliability is low. Sohar confidence is low. Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb effectively closed to commercial carriers.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Saudi redistribution volumes accelerating.
HOLIDAY PERIOD STARTING: Significantly increased customs delays expected — build 24–72hr buffer into all border crossing timelines. Fujairah and Oman corridor access reducing trucking options. Truck capacity from Oman fully constrained.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 17th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional conditions remain highly constrained. UAE airspace was temporarily closed earlier today as a precautionary measure and has since reopened, marking the most significant intraday development. However, recovery‑related slot constraints and rerouting disruptions continue to work through the system. Fujairah’s oil‑loading operations remain partially suspended; ADNOC loading is still halted despite the resumption of two of three moorings. Sohar is operating under a post‑incident security review, while Salalah remains restricted and operationally unreliable. Jeddah continues to strengthen as the primary maritime fallback hub. The Strait of Hormuz and Bab el‑Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers. Congestion at Khor Fakkan persists as diverted cargo continues to accumulate. Emirates is operating on a reduced schedule, and Qatar Airways has confirmed that current services do not yet represent a full operational resumption. No additional state actors have been identified at this time. Missile and drone activity continues across the GCC. Ramadan‑related customs constraints remain in effect, and banking continuity is under active monitoring.

Operational Update

UAE airspace temporarily closed this morning and has since reopened — recovery slot pressure and rerouting disruption likely to cause knock-on delays through the day. Emirates is on a reduced schedule. Qatar Airways confirms current service is not a full resumption.
Fujairah oil-loading remains halted — ADNOC loading suspended despite two of three moorings resuming. Fire damage and ongoing threat conditions keep Fujairah a major Gulf maritime risk. Container handling under active assessment.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers without military escort.
Khor Fakkan congestion remains elevated — DHL flagging 10+ day delays and long truck queues. Discharge windows are tightening. Jeddah is designated as the primary sea contingency.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged in the region are accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
Oman/Sohar/Fujairah customs procedures in flux — officials lack clear guidance on transit handling, creating multi-day delays across all resolution options.
Qatar Airways planning horizon remains unclear — no reliable schedule for operational recovery, requiring clients to plan for extended alternate routing.
Carrier digital tracking systems are unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman, Fujairah, and Saudi corridors — scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising sharply; airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended; CWW backup payment channels operational.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah drone fire — scope of damage, oil-loading resumption timeline, wider port access impact, and any follow-on security incidents.
Sohar drone incident — ongoing security review, port access status, and container handling resumption timeline.
Salalah port operations — recovery plan and timeline for restoring Oman as a viable contingency routing option.
Khor Fakkan congestion — discharge restriction timeline and container offload alternatives; Jeddah routing remains primary contingency.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — US military escort posture, carrier/insurance authorization for passage, and any new Stop-Voyage declarations.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under Ramadan staffing constraints.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance, and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements, and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance, and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
Active threat to UAE Port infrastructure.

Air Freight

Surcharges accelerating — up to 70% on key routes. Capacity is tightly managed on a case-by-case basis. No published rates. DOH and BAS remain severely constrained. Emirates is on a reduced schedule. Stabilization expected to occur gradually as Ramadan progresses.

Ocean Freight

Deteriorating! Fujairah suspension is a significant new blow to Gulf maritime resilience. Khor Fakkan is likely to remain under pressure. Jeddah must remain pre-positioned as a primary sea alternative. Salalah and Sohar contingency confidence is low.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Saudi redistribution volumes are accelerating. Significant Ramadan holiday impact ongoing. The Fujairah and Oman corridor access is reducing trucking options

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 16th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

As of this update, regional tension remains critical with a significant new escalation overnight. Fujairah has suspended oil-loading operations following a drone-related fire — a major blow to Gulf maritime resilience and the most operationally significant development since the Sohar incident. Sohar continues under security assessment; Salalah remains degraded, confirming Oman as an unreliable contingency corridor. Jeddah continues to strengthen as the primary sea fallback hub. Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers. Khor Fakkan congestion persists at elevated levels. Airfreight surcharges rising sharply — up to 70% on key routes per Reuters. No new state actors. Missile and drone activity persists across the GCC. Ramadan customs constraints continue. Banking continuity monitoring is active.

Operational Update

Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers without military escort.
Fujairah oil-loading suspended after drone-related fire — major new Gulf maritime risk. Port access and container handling status under active assessment.
Khor Fakkan congestion remains elevated — vessel discharge restrictions possible. Jeddah is now designated as primary sea contingency given Salalah labour disruption.
Sohar port and industrial zone under ongoing security monitoring following drone incident. Container handling under review.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged in region accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
Oman/Sohar/Fujairah customs procedures in flux — officials lack clear guidance on transit handling, creating multi-day delays across all resolution options.
Qatar Airways planning horizon remains unclear — no reliable schedule for operational recovery, requiring clients to plan for extended alternate routing.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman, Fujairah and Saudi corridors — scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising sharply; airfreight surcharges up to 70%; LC issuance timelines extended; CWW backup payment channels operational.

Current Monitoring Focus

Fujairah drone fire — scope of damage, oil-loading resumption timeline, wider port access impact and any follow-on security incidents.
Sohar drone incident — ongoing security review, port access status and container handling resumption timeline.
Salalah port operations — recovery plan and timeline for restoring Oman as a viable contingency routing option.
Khor Fakkan congestion — discharge restriction timeline and container offload alternatives; Jeddah routing remains primary contingency.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — US military escort posture, carrier/insurance authorization for passage, and any new Stop-Voyage declarations.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under Ramadan staffing constraints.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — monitor for additional surcharge notifications across all corridors.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning — airfreight up to 70% on key routes.
Active threat to UAE Port infrastructure

Air Freight

Surcharges accelerating — up to 70% on key routes. Capacity tightly managed case-by-case. No published rates. DOH and BAS remain severely constrained. Emirates on a reduced schedule. Stabilization expected gradually as Ramadan progresses.

Ocean Freight

Deteriorating Fujairah suspension is a significant new blow to Gulf maritime resilience. Khor Fakkan is likely to remain under pressure. Jeddah must remain pre-positioned as a primary sea alternative. Salalah and Sohar contingency confidence is low.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Saudi redistribution volumes accelerating. Significant Ramadan holiday impact ongoing. Fujairah and Oman corridor access reducing trucking options.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 13th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

As of this update, regional tension remains critical with no material de-escalation overnight. The primary new development is a reported drone incident in the Sohar industrial area, with casualties confirmed and impact on port infrastructure not yet fully assessed — port access and container handling under active security review. Salalah port strike continues to degrade operational reliability, further eroding Gulf contingency routing options. Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers without military escort. Khor Fakkan congestion is approaching critical discharge threshold; Jeddah (Sea) is now designated as primary sea contingency. No new state actors. Missile and drone activity persists across the GCC. Ramadan customs constraints and financial system monitoring continue. Jeddah emerging as the primary alternative sea hub. Banking continuity monitoring is active.

Operational Update

Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers without military escort.
Khor Fakkan congestion approaching critical threshold — vessel discharge restrictions imminent. Jeddah is now designated as primary sea contingency given Salalah labour disruption.
Drone incident in Sohar industrial area with casualties reported. Port infrastructure impact not yet confirmed — security response ongoing. Port access, industrial logistics zones and container handling under active review.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged at Sohar accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
Oman/Sohar customs procedures in flux — officials lack clear guidance on transit handling, creating multi-day delays across all three resolution options.
Qatar Airways planning horizon remains unclear — no reliable schedule for operational recovery, requiring clients to plan for extended alternate routing.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor at high risk — restricted access with significant inspection delays and security controls.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman and Saudi corridors — scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising; LC issuance timelines extended; CWW backup payment channels operational.

Current Monitoring Focus

Sohar drone incident — scale and infrastructure impact; port access status and timeline for container handling resumption.
Salalah port operations plan.
Khor Fakkan congestion threshold — discharge restriction timeline and container offload alternatives; Jeddah routing primary contingency.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — US military escort posture, carrier/insurance authorization for passage, and any new Stop-Voyage declarations.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under Ramadan staffing constraints.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; high-risk status. Monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — most carriers have issued War Risk Assessments; monitor for additional surcharge notifications.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance and container repositioning.

Air Freight

Gradual stabilisation. Airlines expanding destinations. Capacity controlled — expect continued booking delays and no-publish rate environment. DOH recovery expected gradually. Changing daily.

Ocean Freight

Increasing congestion and routing complexity. Khor Fakkan is likely to deteriorate further. Sohar drone incident adds new risk variables. Jeddah must be pre-positioned as a primary sea alternative immediately. Salalah contingency confidence is low.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Saudi redistribution volumes increasing. Significant Ramadan holiday impact expected.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 12th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

As of this update, the regional tension remains critical with no material significant escalation overnight. Ocean freight continues as the primary operational challenge. Salalah port — previously promoted as the primary Khor Fakkan alternative — experienced major strike halting operations, adding new risk to contingency routing. No new state actors entered the conflict. Missile and drone activity persists across the GCC. Energy infrastructure under continued threat; Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers without military escort. Oil and Cargo vessels were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz and in the Western Gulf (Iraq), Ramadan customs capacity constraints and potential financial system disruptions compounding operational complexity. Banking continuity monitoring is now active.

Operational Update

Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain impassable for commercial carriers without military escort.
Khor Fakkan congestion approaching critical threshold — MSC discharge restrictions imminent. Contingency via Jeddah must now be a primary plan given Salalah labor disruption.
Salalah port missile strike affecting port operations — previously a primary alternative now degraded. Assess Jeddah as a primary sea contingency immediately.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged at Sohar accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
Oman/Sohar customs procedures in flux — officials lack clear guidance on transit handling, creating multi-day delays across all three resolution options.
Qatar Airways planning horizon remains unclear — no reliable schedule for operational recovery, requiring clients to plan for extended alternate routing.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman and Saudi corridors — scarcity compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo.
Financial watch active — war-risk insurance premiums rising; LC issuance timelines extended; CWW backup payment channels operational.

Current Monitoring Focus

Salalah missile strike resolution — timeline and scale of action; impact on feeder and carrier calls.
Khor Fakkan congestion threshold — Discharge restriction timeline and container offload alternatives; escalation to Jeddah routing now primary contingency.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — US military escort posture, carrier/insurance authorization for passage, and any new Stop-Voyage declarations.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under Ramadan staffing constraints.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions, LC issuance and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; current delays expected to ease but monitoring for further deterioration.
Banking and financial system continuity — SWIFT delays, correspondent bank scrutiny, war-risk LC endorsements and Qatar payment channel constraints.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — most carriers have issued War Risk Assessments; monitor for additional surcharge notifications.
Significant cost increases across fuel, freight, insurance, and container repositioning.

Air Freight

Gradual stabilisation. Airlines expanding destinations. Capacity controlled — expect continued booking delays and a no-publish rate environment. DOH recovery is expected gradually this week. Changing daily.

Ocean Freight

Increasing congestion and routing complexity. Khor Fakkan is likely to deteriorate. Salalah risk reduces contingency confidence. Jeddah must be pre-positioned as a primary sea alternative immediately.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Saudi redistribution volumes to increase. Significant Ramadan holiday impact expected.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 11th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Regional tension remains at a critical level. Strait of Hormuz now effectively closed to commercial shipping — Iranian IRGC enforcing closure with ~91% traffic drop. French Navy deploying 10 additional warships; escort mission announced but not yet operational. Many ships remain trapped in the Gulf, and many at Anchorage outside awaiting discharge opportunities. Intra-Gulf shipping toward Iraq opened with limited services. DXB briefly suspended March 7 (drone strike near T3) — operations restored. Emirates/Etihad/flydubai resume reduced commercial schedules. EASA CZIB extended to March 11. No new state actors. Energy infrastructure is intact. .

Operational Update

Strait of Hormuz effectively closed — Iranian IRGC enforcing. ~147 containerships trapped inside Persian Gulf. French escort mission announced; timeline to operational unclear.
Khor Fakkan congestion at/approaching critical threshold — MSC discharge restrictions active. Contingency via Salalah and Jeddah must be activated proactively.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged at Sohar accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
Oman/Sohar customs procedures in flux — officials lack clear guidance on transit handling, creating multi-day delays across all three resolution options.
Qatar Airways commercial cargo recovery unclear — evacuation flights only; no cargo schedule for DOH, requiring clients to plan extended alternate routing.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman, Saudi corridors — scarcity is compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo.
DXB security posture elevated — drone strike near Terminal 3 on March 7; GCAA NOC is now required for repatriation corridor access.

Current Monitoring Focus

Strait of Hormuz closure duration — French/allied escort mission timeline; Iranian enforcement posture; any carrier authorization for passage resumption.
Khor Fakkan congestion threshold — MSC discharge restriction timeline and container offload alternatives; escalation to Salalah/Jeddah routing if formalized.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows.
EASA CZIB 2026-03 renewal — expires March 11; watch for extension or downgrade covering GCC airspace.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions and client surcharge exposure.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under Ramadan staffing.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; current delays expected to ease but monitoring for further deterioration.
Sohar/Salalah viability — carrier and insurance authorization to call Omani ports as primary alternative routing develops.
Rising Costs for Fuel, transport, and surcharges. Supply/Demand increasing imbalances for all modes.
Alternative Saudi entry points viability

Air Freight

Cautious stabilization continues. Emirates, Etihad and flydubai resume reduced commercial schedules. NOC process required for GCC repatriation corridors. Capacity controlled — no published rates. EASA advisory renewal due March 11 is key trigger.

Ocean Freight

Hormuz effectively closed — Cape of Good Hope routing now standard. ~147 ships trapped in the Gulf. Khor Fakkan situation critical; Salalah/Jeddah must be pre-positioned. War risk surcharges doubling. No near-term recovery signal.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Bahrain LTL suspended. Saudi redistribution volumes increasing further under Ramadan staffing constraints.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 10th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

Operational Update

Strait of Hormuz effectively closed — Iranian IRGC enforcing. ~147 containerships trapped inside Persian Gulf. French escort mission announced; timeline to operational unclear.
Khor Fakkan congestion at approaching critical threshold — MSC discharge restrictions active. Contingency via Salalah and Jeddah must be activated proactively.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged at Sohar accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
Oman/Sohar customs procedures in flux — officials lack clear guidance on transit handling, creating multi-day delays across all three resolution options.
Qatar Airways commercial cargo recovery unclear — evacuation flights only; no cargo schedule for DOH, requiring clients to plan extended alternate routing.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman, Saudi corridors — scarcity is compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo.
DXB security posture elevated — drone strike near Terminal 3 on March 7; GCAA NOC is now required for repatriation corridor access.

Current Monitoring Focus

Strait of Hormuz closure duration — French/allied escort mission timeline; Iranian enforcement posture; any carrier authorization for passage resumption.
Khor Fakkan congestion threshold — MSC discharge restriction timeline and container offload alternatives; escalation to Salalah/Jeddah routing if formalized.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows.
EASA CZIB 2026-03 renewal — expires March 11; watch for extension or downgrade covering GCC airspace.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions and client surcharge exposure.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under Ramadan staffing.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; current delays expected to ease but monitoring for further deterioration.
Sohar/Salalah viability — carrier and insurance authorization to call Omani ports as primary alternative routing develops.
Rising Costs for Fuel, transport, and surcharges. Supply/Demand increasing imbalances for all modes.
Alternative Saudi entry points viability

Air Freight

Cautious stabilization continues. Emirates, Etihad and flydubai resume reduced commercial schedules. NOC process required for GCC repatriation corridors. Capacity controlled — no published rates. EASA advisory renewal due March 11 is key trigger.

Ocean Freight

Hormuz effectively closed — Cape of Good Hope routing now standard. ~147 ships trapped in the Gulf. Khor Fakkan situation critical; Salalah/Jeddah must be pre-positioned. War risk surcharges doubling. No near-term recovery signal.

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Bahrain LTL suspended. Saudi redistribution volumes increasing further under Ramadan staffing constraints.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 9th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

As of this update, Regional tension remains elevated but showing early signs of tactical stabilization across air and road corridors. Ocean freight has emerged as the primary operational challenge this week, overtaking air freight in severity. No new state actors entered the conflict overnight. Energy infrastructure intact; shipping lane access remains the critical variable. Ramadan operational tempo and customs capacity constraints compounding logistics complexity.

Operational Update

Khor Fakkan congestion approaching critical threshold — MSC discharge restrictions imminent. Contingency via Salalah and Jeddah must be activated proactively.
Doha ocean cargo suspended — containers already discharged at Sohar accruing storage charges daily pending client acceptance of costings.
Oman/Sohar customs procedures in flux — officials lack clear guidance on transit handling, creating multi-day delays across all three resolution options.
Qatar Airways planning horizon remains unclear — no reliable schedule for operational recovery, requiring clients to plan for extended alternate routing.
Carrier digital tracking systems unreliable — direct communication with agents required for all cargo status; standard tracking tools cannot be trusted for client updates.
Trucking capacity shortage across Oman, Saudi corridors — scarcity is compressing resolution timelines for stranded and in-transit cargo.

Current Monitoring Focus

Khor Fakkan congestion threshold — MSC discharge restriction timeline and container offload alternatives; escalation to Salalah/Jeddah routing if restrictions formalized.
Qatar Airways service recovery — timeline for resuming cargo acceptance and publication of rates; critical for normalizing DOH freight flows.
Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — US military escort posture, carrier/insurance authorization for passage, and any new Stop-Voyage declarations.
Saudi customs infrastructure — ability to absorb redistributed GCC cargo volumes as Riyadh/Jeddah act as regional hubs under Ramadan staffing constraints.
Insurance War Risk premiums — trajectory for Gulf/Indian Ocean region; direct impact on carrier routing decisions and client surcharge exposure.
Kuwait–Iraq corridor — border inspection regime; current delays expected to ease but monitoring for further deterioration.
Sohar/Salalah viability — carrier and insurance authorization to call Omani ports as primary alternative routing develops.
Added carrier surcharges (War Risk, General Rate Increase) — most carriers have issued War Risk Assessments; monitor for additional surcharge notifications.

Air Freight

Gradual stabilization. Airlines expanding destinations. Capacity controlled — expect continued booking delays and no-publish rate environment through this week.

Ocean Freight

Increasing congestion and routing complexity expected. Khorfakkan situation likely to deteriorate. Port alternatives (Salalah, Jeddah) must be pre-positioned

Road Freight

Largely operational but facing growing customs delays and capacity pressure as air/sea cargo shifts to land. Saudi redistribution volumes to increase.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 8th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

As of this update, operational conditions across the Middle East remain largely unchanged from previous update. The overall environment remains status quo, and the situation continues to be closely monitored.

The Middle East logistics sector faces acute disruptions from ongoing and escalating regional conflicts, including full suspensions of airfreight by most carriers like Emirates SkyCargo and KLM through early March. Ocean freight halts through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb by Maersk, MSC, Hapag, and CMA CGM, as well as anticipated weeks-long backlogs. Some air carriers continue to accept orders with delay warnings. Despite these challenges, the market benefits from robust growth drivers like UAE and Saudi infrastructure investments, which are anticipated to resume at the end of the current action. Border crossings remain operational with minor delays, positioning the GCC as a strategic hub amid volatility.

Operational Update

Middle East air corridors closed to limited activity, with the primary focus being PAX. Slightly opening from today with limited cargo. Inbound channels via Saudi, Oman, and Egypt are the most likely until freighter and cargo services inch back toward normalcy. Significant impact on costs and transit time expected. Sporadic flights are occurring and are not indicative of a real schedule. Middle East carriers are attempting to ramp back up with already significant backlogs.
Sea routes disrupted, with several major ports showing open, though limited to no activity. New vessel calls through the Gulf are stopped and mostly ceased on the Indian Ocean side. Several carriers have issued “stop-voyage” notices and are attempting to jettison cargo at the nearest location. Suez remains passable with low appetite for utilization from the main global carriers. Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb significantly challenged to halted.
Delays are expected both in physical movement and through the customs process.
Major road feeders remain open with border crossing delays and some restrictions, for example DGs reported.
CWW locations fully operational and working remotely.

Crane Worldwide Current Operational Status

No incidents involving CWW personnel or equipment.
All CWW offices fully operational and working remotely under contingency.
Active monitoring of all modes and corridors.
Monitoring and tracking at shipment level to ensure visibility and control of cargo in transit.
Air freight channels established as well as some alternative sea channels.

Alternative Logistics Solutions in Motion

Monitoring, tracking, and preparing for onward forwarding of in-transit shipments (air & sea).
Utilization of KAP and Jeddah ports for inbound and rerouted sea freight.
Distribution through Saudi to GCC countries.
Air freight via Saudi, Oman, and Egypt.
Sea freight via Saudi, Oman, and Egypt.
Road feeder service for GCC countries.

Alternative Logistics Solutions in Process

Dedicated charter aircraft to Riyadh, Muscat, or Jeddah available to support.
Viability of Sohar and Salalah ports.

Current Monitoring Focus

Ongoing armed conflict status and sustainability after today’s brief escalation.
Airspace status in GCC countries as well as airport/flight openings.
Potential flights starting again to a limited number of destinations. Cargo will still be backlogged and the moratorium on new bookings for the larger UAE carriers.
Productivity in Jebel Ali handling ships trapped in the Gulf. Production unclear, but the port is working.
Carriers issuing stop-voyage notices and looking to discharge containers at other ports, already overwhelming port infrastructure.
Strait of Hormuz passage, as the US has indicated they will use military escorts to ensure passage (focused on oil exports).
Carrier/insurance authorization to call Omani ports and pass through the Suez.
Where vessels in transit or rerouted will drop cargo after not being able to enter Middle East ports.
Added costs (surcharges, etc.) from carriers. Most have notified war risk increases.
Road borders and crossings.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 6th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

As of this update, the Middle East logistics sector faces acute disruptions from ongoing and escalating regional conflicts, including full suspensions of airfreight by most carriers like Emirates SkyCargo and KLM through early March. Ocean freight halts through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb by Maersk, MSC, Hapag, and CMA CGM, as well as anticipated weeks-long backlogs. Some air carriers continue to accept orders with delay warnings. Despite these challenges, the market benefits from robust growth drivers like UAE and Saudi infrastructure investments, which are anticipated to resume at the end of the current action. Border crossings remain operational with minor delays, positioning the GCC as a strategic hub amid volatility.

Operational Update

Middle East air corridors closed to limited activity, with the primary focus being PAX. Slightly opening from today with limited cargo. Inbound channels via Saudi, Oman, and Egypt are the most likely until freighter and cargo services inch back toward normalcy. Significant impact on costs and transit time expected. Sporadic flights are occurring and are not indicative of a real schedule. Middle East carriers are attempting to ramp back up with already significant backlogs.
Sea routes disrupted, with several major ports showing open, though limited to no activity. New vessel calls through the Gulf are stopped and mostly ceased on the Indian Ocean side. Several carriers have issued “stop-voyage” notices and are attempting to jettison cargo at the nearest location. Suez remains passable with low appetite for utilization from the main global carriers. Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb significantly challenged to halted.
Delays are expected both in physical movement and through the customs process.
Major road feeders remain open with border crossing delays and some restrictions, for example DGs reported.
CWW locations fully operational and working remotely.

Crane Worldwide Current Operational Status

No incidents involving CWW personnel or equipment.
All CWW offices fully operational and working remotely under contingency.
Active monitoring of all modes and corridors.
Monitoring and tracking at shipment level to ensure visibility and control of cargo in transit.
Air freight channels established as well as some alternative sea channels.

Alternative Logistics Solutions in Motion

Monitoring, tracking, and preparing for onward forwarding of in-transit shipments (air & sea).
Utilization of KAP and Jeddah ports for inbound and rerouted sea freight.
Distribution through Saudi to GCC countries.
Air freight via Saudi, Oman, and Egypt.
Sea freight via Saudi, Oman, and Egypt.
Road feeder service for GCC countries.

Alternative Logistics Solutions in Process

Dedicated charter aircraft to Riyadh, Muscat, or Jeddah available to support.
Viability of Sohar and Salalah ports.

Current Monitoring Focus

Ongoing armed conflict status and sustainability after today’s brief escalation.
Airspace status in GCC countries as well as airport/flight openings.
Potential flights starting again to a limited number of destinations. Cargo will still be backlogged and the moratorium on new bookings for the larger UAE carriers.
Productivity in Jebel Ali handling ships trapped in the Gulf. Production unclear, but the port is working.
Carriers issuing stop-voyage notices and looking to discharge containers at other ports, already overwhelming port infrastructure.
Strait of Hormuz passage, as the US has indicated they will use military escorts to ensure passage (focused on oil exports).
Carrier/insurance authorization to call Omani ports and pass through the Suez.
Where vessels in transit or rerouted will drop cargo after not being able to enter Middle East ports.
Added costs (surcharges, etc.) from carriers. Most have notified war risk increases.
Road borders and crossings.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 5th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

As of this update, logistics operations across the Middle East remain operationally challenged with elevated monitoring.

GCC attacks by Iran have subsided to some degree, though still reporting drone activity in all countries. Our assessment is that this is not a de-escalation of activities, rather strategic or forced repositioning. Key Gulf Ports are reporting a return to operation, though there is no evidence of significant activity or port operations. Airports and airspace remain mostly closed with Passengers and critical commodities being the priority. Air corridors are available and improving daily in bound through Saudi and Oman. Delays are assured. Road conditions are delayed but primarily open for most of the GCC.

Operational Update

Middle East Air Corridors closed to limited activity, primary focus being PAX. Slightly opening from today with limited cargo. Inbound channels via Saudi, Oman, and Egypt are the most likely until freighter and cargo services inches back toward normalcy. Significant impact on costs and transit time expected.
Sea Routes disrupted with several major ports showing open, though limited to no activity. New vessel callings through the Gulf are stopped and mostly ceased on the Indian Ocean side. Suez remains passable with low appetite for utilization from the main global carriers. Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb significantly challenged to halt.
Container carriers are beginning unit discharges of transit boxes. They are being dropped in UAE. Surcharges are being applied, beyond costs, significant time delays are expected both in physical movement and through the customs process.
Major Road feeders open with border crossing delays and some restriction, for example DGs, reported.
CWW Locations Fully Operational and Working Remotely

Crane Worldwide Current Operational Status

No Incidents involving CWW personnel or equipment
All CWW offices are fully operational and working remotely under contingency
Active Monitoring of all Modes and Corridors
Monitoring and tracking at Shipment Level to ensure visibility and control of cargo in transit
Air freight channels were established as well as some alternative sea channels.

Alternative Logistics Solutions in Motion

Monitoring, tracking and preparing for onforwarding of In-Transit Shipments (Air & Sea)
Utilization of KAP and Jeddah Ports for inbound and rerouted Sea Freight
Distribution through Saudi to GCC Countries
Air freight via Saudi, Oman, and Egypt.
Sea freight via Saudi, Oman, and Egypt.
Road feeder service for GCC Countries

Alternative Logistics Solutions in Process

Dedicated charter aircraft to Riyadh, Muscat, or Jeddah are available to support.
Identifying carriers and alternatives willing to still transit the Suez Canal to Saudi
Viability of Sohar and Salalah Ports

Current Monitoring Focus

Ongoing armed conflict status and sustainability of the current action slowdown
Air space status in GCC countries as well as airport/flight openings
Productivity in Jebel Ali handling ships trapped in the Gulf
Strait of Hormuz passage as the US has indicated they will use military escorts to ensure passage (Focused on Oil Exports)
Carrier/Insurance authorization to call Omani Ports and pass through the Suez
Where vessels in transit or rerouted will drop cargo after not being able to enter Middle East Ports.
Road borders and crossings

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 4th, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

As of this update, logistics operations across the Middle East remain operationally challenged with elevated monitoring. While major air hubs, key Gulf ports, and primary road corridors remain open, airspace closures, strait conditions, and military activity are severely limiting cargo activity. Carriers are attempting to adjust routings and insurance markets are tightening risk parameters in response to heightened insecurity and tensions. Widespread shutdowns are in effect, but GCC countries are seeking to open in limited capacity. Viable alternatives are under review for immediate execution.

Operational Update

Middle East air corridors closed to limited activity, primary focus being PAX, slightly opening from today with limited cargo.
Sea routes disrupted with several major ports showing open, though limited to no activity.
Major road feeders open with delays expected.
CWW locations fully operational and working remotely

Crane Worldwide Current Operational Status

No incidents involving CWW personnel or equipment
All CWW offices fully operational and working remotely under contingency
Active monitoring of all modes and corridors
Monitoring and tracking at shipment level to ensure visibility and control of cargo in transit
Aggressively developing solutions in a constantly changing environment.

Alternative Logistics Solutions in Progress

Monitoring, tracking and preparing for onforwarding of In-Transit Shipments (Air & Sea)
Utilization of KAP and Jeddah Ports for inbound and rerouted sea freight
Distribution through Saudi to GCC countries

Current Monitoring Focus

Ongoing armed conflict status
Air space status in GCC countries as well as airport/flight openings
Potential for Jebel Ali to handle ships trapped in the Gulf as the conflict began
Strait of Hormuz passage as the US has indicated they will use military escorts to ensure passage (focused on oil exports)
Carrier/insurance authorization to call Omani Ports and pass through the Suez
Where vessels in transit or rerouted will drop cargo after not being able to enter Middle East Ports.
Road borders and crossings

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 3rd, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

The operating environment remains status quo. There are no material changes since the last advisory. Previously communicated restrictions and operational impacts remain in effect.

Air Freight

Air freight options remain extremely limited

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight options remain on hold

Road Freight

Intra–Middle East road corridors remain open and operational
Delays are expected

Crane Worldwide Logistics Operations

Crane Worldwide Logistics continues working locally, regionally, and globally to support alternative routing strategies as conditions evolve.
Further updates will be provided as necessary.

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 2nd, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Latest

There have been no material changes in the operating environment since our previous advisory. All previously communicated restrictions remain in effect and are summarized below.

Air Freight

GCC airspace remains closed until further notice
Flight cancellations and inbound suspensions continue across the region

Ocean Freight

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed to marine traffic
Vessel movement in and out of the Persian Gulf is still suspended
Port disruptions remain in effect
Crane Worldwide is actively tracking sea freight to keep clients informed as vessels are turned away or rerouted

Road Freight

Road freight movement remains limited, with delays at border crossings
Crossings are operating but with slower throughput

Crane Worldwide Logistics Operations

All offices remain fully operational
Remote continuity measures are active
The business continuity framework remains in place
Updated contingency plans will be issued this afternoon

Middle East Logistics Update Issued

March 1st, 2026: 09:00 AM GMT

Military activity across multiple GCC countries continued overnight and into this morning. The situation remains highly dynamic and continues to evolve. Crane Worldwide Logistics is closely monitoring developments across the region, with a particular focus on airspace restrictions, marine corridors, and critical logistics infrastructure.

This update reflects the current logistics operating environment and is intended to support our clients in navigating ongoing disruptions.

Current Operating Environment

Air Freight

All GCC airspace remains closed until further notice
Widespread flight cancellations and inbound suspensions
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is currently closed

Ocean Freight

Strait of Hormuz is closed to all marine traffic
No vessel movement in or out of the Persian Gulf
Jebel Ali and Duqm ports have sustained impacts; operations currently suspended
Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains open but under strain
Suez Canal remains open and operational

Road Freight

Road freight movement is slow to limited across the region
UAE–Saudi border crossings experiencing significant delays
Oman border crossings remain officially open
Road freight in Qatar is highly restricted to near non-operational levels

Country-Specific Logistics Status

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Critical infrastructure remains largely intact
Airports closed
Port operations suspended
Road freight movement limited

Qatar

Airspace closed
Ports closed
Road freight highly restricted

Saudi Arabia

Airspace closed
Gulf-facing ports inaccessible due to Strait of Hormuz closure
Red Sea ports remain open at this time

Crane Worldwide Logistics Operations

All Crane Worldwide offices remain operational
Remote working protocols activated for designated teams
Business continuity plans are in effect
Actively monitoring all carrier and government advisories

Status Summary

Air freight suspended across the GCC
Marine traffic halted in the Strait of Hormuz
Port and airport closures significantly impacting cargo flows
Road freight operating at reduced capacity

Crane Worldwide Logistics remains fully operational with contingency measures in place to support our clients during this period of disruption.

Service Update: Middle East Operations

February 28th, 2026 12:00AM (UTC+4)

Latest

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a full blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian naval forces are broadcasting that no vessels may transit the strait under any circumstances, according to Reuters.

The blockade effectively traps vessels inside the Persian Gulf and prevents access to major regional hubs, including Jebel Ali. There is no maritime alternative to the Persian Gulf, creating an immediate deadlock for global energy and container flows.

Carrier Responses

Maersk and CMA CGM Major container carriers have reversed plans to resume Red Sea and Suez Canal transits in 2026.

With the Strait of Hormuz blocked and Houthi militia activity expected to resume in the Red Sea, carriers are prioritizing crew and cargo safety over transit times.

Hapag-Lloyd

Hapag-Lloyd has suspended all vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.

The carrier stated the decision is mandatory due to the evolving security situation and the official closure of the waterway. Crew, vessel, and cargo safety remain its highest priority.

Hapag-Lloyd is monitoring developments closely and remains in contact with authorities and security partners. Services calling Arabian Gulf ports may experience delays, rerouting, or schedule changes. Customers will be informed of any material shipment impacts.

Impact on Global Trade

The blockade creates a critical bottleneck across both energy and container markets.

Port Congestion: Major hubs such as Jebel Ali are effectively cut off. Vessels already inside the Gulf cannot depart, and new arrivals cannot enter.

Rerouting and Discharge: Carriers are likely to discharge cargo at alternative regional ports, with onward movement by road where infrastructure allows.

Extended Transit Times Diversions around the Cape of Good Hope add approximately 10–14 days to Asia–Europe and Asia–U.S. East Coast routes. Shippers face longer lead times, increased fuel costs, and mounting schedule disruption. With no immediate maritime workaround, supply chains should prepare for extended diversions around Africa for the remainder of the year.

Service Update: Middle East Operations

February 28th, 2026

The United States and Israel have initiated military operations in Iran. Crane Worldwide Logistics is closely monitoring developments across Iran and the broader Middle East. All Crane operations across the Gulf and wider Middle East remain fully operational, with no disruptions to client cargo flows. Air traffic is avoiding Iranian airspace; minor delays are possible. Airspace across Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman remains open. Ocean freight services continue as scheduled, with carriers maintaining routing flexibility in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz. Road freight operations across the Gulf Coast Countries (GCC) remain fully operational and unchanged.

Air Freight

Some GCC airspace remains open and functioning
Air traffic patterns have been adjusted to avoid Iranian airspace
Delays are expected due to increased routings
Regional hubs remain operational, though UAE airspace is currently closed

Ocean Freight

The Strait of Hormuz is classified as high risk but is currently open
The Bab el-Mandeb strait remains sensitive yet open
Major Gulf ports are operational
Carriers are maintaining routing flexibility to react to changes in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz

Road Freight

UAE–Saudi–Oman corridors remain stable
Intra-GCC transport is fully operational

What We Are Monitoring

Regional airspace advisories and international carrier updates
Maritime traffic conditions in the Strait of Hormuz
Red Sea routing developments
Government and port authority notices

Preparedness & Continuity: Crane Worldwide Logistics has established Business Continuity and Contingency Plans in place and will activate them as required. Our global teams remain aligned and prepared to adjust operations to ensure service continuity.

Status Summary: All Crane Worldwide Logistics services across the Middle East remain operational. There is no material disruption to client cargo flows at this time.

Client Support: Clients with shipments moving through the region who require shipment‑specific reviews or routing discussions are encouraged to contact your Crane representative or leadership contact directly.

Middle East Operations Update: Current Service Status

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Current Operating Environment

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Status Summary

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Hapag-Lloyd

Impact on Global Trade

Service Update: Middle East Operations

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Ocean Freight

Road Freight

What We Are Monitoring

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