Ports in Dubai, Oman and Bahrain have suspended operations following a series of aerial attacks across the region. The incidents have reportedly sparked at least one fire at Dubai’s Jebel Ali port and struck two vessels off the coast of Oman.
According to the Dubai Media Office, a fire broke out at one of Jebel Ali’s berths after debris from an “aerial interception” landed within the facility on Saturday. Smoke was still visible from inside the port as of this morning.
Port operations across the Middle East remain varied. While several terminals continue to operate normally and no formal elevation of regional security threat levels has been announced, multiple ports have implemented suspensions or partial closures over the past 24 hours whilst carriers have also suspended bookings at many.
Jebel Ali has halted all operations. Other major UAE ports, including Khalifa Port, Sharjah, and Khor Fakkan, remain operational, as do KSA ports. However operations in Duqm Port in Oman have been suspended whilst Muscat and Salalah remain operational.
Additionally, major container lines have halted sailings through the Strait of Hormuz and diverted vessels away from the Suez Canal. At least 15 containerships have reversed course while transiting Hormuz, while most others have either paused operations or diverted. Approximately 170 vessels remain inside the strait and are currently unable to exit.
MSC has paused global cargo bookings to the Middle East and directed ships in or bound for the Gulf to move to designated safe areas. CMA CGM and Maersk have suspended all Suez Canal transits. Hapag-Lloyd has stopped Hormuz crossings, citing its official closure by authorities amid the deteriorating security situation.
PSA BDP teams are closely monitoring the situation and its potential impact on regional air and ocean freight capacity and transit times. Customers with shipments moving through or into the Middle East should anticipate possible delays. Additional updates will be shared as conditions evolve.
