The UAE has called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, expressing grave concern over attacks on commercial vessels and the disruption of one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
Speaking at the 2026 BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting in Jaipur, India, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted movement of commercial shipping must be protected under international law.
The UAE’s appeal follows repeated attacks on vessels in the Gulf since the escalation of the regional conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.
Energy company ADNOC said on Friday that its operations and employees have been significantly affected by attacks on its assets. The company said 15 of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones while passing through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, including three vessels during the latest week.
According to ADNOC, the attacks have killed one crew member and injured 20 others.
“Freedom of navigation and the safe, uninterrupted passage of commercial shipping through international waterways must be respected and protected without threat, harassment or attack,” the company said.
Al Zeyoudi raised the shipping crisis during broader discussions at the BRICS meeting, where ministers addressed trade resilience, market connectivity and challenges facing global commerce. The meeting ended without agreement on a joint declaration.
He said stronger cooperation among emerging and developing economies was particularly important during a period of uncertainty in international trade. The UAE sees BRICS as an important forum for expanding economic ties and supporting an open and predictable trading environment, he said.
Trade between the UAE and BRICS members has continued to expand despite wider global disruptions. UAE non-oil trade with BRICS nations exceeded $312 billion in 2025, representing a 28.5% increase from $243 billion in 2024.
BRICS countries accounted for about 31% of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade last year. They represented 34% of UAE imports, 23% of non-oil exports and 28% of re-exports.
Al Zeyoudi also held talks with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on expanding cooperation in services, digital commerce, logistics and food security.
UAE-India non-oil trade reached $76.2 billion in 2025, up 17.3% from the previous year.
The UAE is pursuing wider trade expansion through its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement programme, which targets $1.1 trillion in non-oil foreign trade by 2031. Since the programme began in 2021, the UAE has concluded 38 agreements with economies across several regions, with 18 currently in force.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the UAE’s trading interests, making the restoration of safe commercial passage a key concern for its economy and international trade links.
