Gulf's Fragile Trade Lifeline Hangs on Two Eastern UAE Ports

FUJAIRAH, May 6 (Reuters) – At the UAE port of Fujairah, conveyor belts offloaded grain from bulk carriers on Wednesday, while crude oil flowed through pipes and onto tankers berthed along its quay.

Dozens of loaded trucks lined up near the port and others parked outside waiting their turn, while offshore, vessels labeled Cosco, Gardenia and other shipping lines lay at anchor, service boats weaving between them.

Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, another eastern port with open access to the Indian Ocean, have become the UAE’s economic lifeline since the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.