Middle East Crisis: Situation Updates

• UAE – All ports operational
  • Khor Fakkan Port not accepting any containers for Exports neither empties nor laden to manage the terminal capacity
• Kuwait
  • Shuwaikh - Operational,
  • Shuaiba - Partially operational
• Saudi Ports – Operational
• Umm Qasr – Operational
• Hamad – Operational
• Bahrain – Partially operational
• Oman
  • Sohar - Operational
  • Salalah - Operational
  • Duqm - Operational
• Beirut – Operational
• Aqaba – Operational

Important Note:

• Hormuz Strait is still closed and hence most ports in the Arabian Gulf though operational are not receiving vessels, and the port operations are limited to on the ground container movements
• DP World is offering Bonded Truck service from Khor Fakkan and Fujairah to Jebel Ali Port
  • Final clearance at Jebel Ali Port
  • Service applicable for both local Import and Free Zone shipments
  • Similar service also provided by other vendors to Sharjah & Abu Dhabi Port
• Similar service also being offered to Sharjah & Abu Dhabi
• Government of India has also issued a SOP to major Indian ports to mitigate the impact through collaborative steps, concessions and prioritization of Middle East shipments

• Dwell times have increased on the impacted ports
• There will continue to be an increase of these offloads, and they are being monitored closely by the Ops teams
• Various carriers have announced they will end journeys early, omit ports or return back

• CMA now accepting bookings for exports from Upper Gulf Via Oman and still receiving imports into Khor Fakkan & Fujairah
• MSC offering connectivity to Dubai, Baghdad & Umm Qasr Via Turkey (Mersin & Iskenderun), similar service also available from Jeddah to Gulf
• Maersk also now accepting Empty returns only at Salalah, Sohar & Jeddah
• MSC declared End of Voyage for exports from Arabian & Persian Gulf that couldn’t leave the Hormuz Strait before the start of the conflict
• MSC has stopped booking acceptance for Gulf on their Falcon service until further notice
• On 3^rd March MSC declared End of Voyage for all shipments located ashore or at Sea and destined for the Arabian Gulf. Shipments will be diverted to another port deemed safe subject to $800/Container mandatory charge and any other charges that may arise
• Solution are being offered from Asia to Iraq via the eastern ports of Turkey like Mersin and Iskenderun
• COSCO all bookings to/from Upper Gulf except Oman, Jeddah, Fujairah & Khor Fakkan have been suspended
• Evergreen suspends all bookings to/from the Middle East except of Jeddah and Omani ports
• YML acceptance of all new bookings to Arabian Gulf ports remains suspended
• CMA CGM stopped acceptance to reefer & DG bookings
• CMA CGM has stopped accepting any bookings to/from BH, KW, IQ, QA, KSA (except JED, KAP) and AE (except KLF & FUJ)
• Currently however, CMA CGM has also halted acceptance of bookings from KLF and SOH due to congestion building up due to limited yard space
• CMA CGM has activated Clause 10 with regards to the diversion of cargo on Vsls CMA CGM Nevada and CMA CGM Don Pascuale, giving cargo owners 7 days to decide on the fate of their cargo
• CMA service suspended passage through the Suez Canal, now halted until further notice, vessels being rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope
• Effective immediately Maersk has suspended all reefer, dangerous / special cargo acceptance in and out of UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia until further notice
• Maersk has suspended M.E related services FM1 and ME11. While ME1 service from Europe is no longer calling Jebel Ali port. Hapag Lloyd also impacted by this change
• Maersk has also suspended all new bookings between the India Subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka) and the Upper Gulf markets of UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Jubail only), exceptions will be made for critical foodstuff, pharma and other essential goods
• Maersk has also suspended all DG cargo movement to/from Isreal, rest remains open
• Main liners are still accepting bookings from Europe & Americas Eastbound to the Red Sea
• Gemini and Maersk standalone services will not route via the canal as previously announced.
• SeaLead continues to transit via Bab Al Mandab, along with other carriers like PIL, ESL etc
• Hapag Lloyd has suspended all bookings to Upper Gulf except Jeddah
• All carriers have now officially halted/suspended any transit via Hormuz Strait due to security reasons and are not accepting any bookings to/from or via the Arabian Gulf Ports

• No information or declarations from Carriers

• Surcharges & Cost Implications: As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, carriers may introduce additional charges to compensate for increased operational and security‑related risks. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
• War Risk Surcharge: Given the heightened regional security environment, carriers and insurers may introduce or adjust war‑risk premiums. These may apply to cargo already in transit as well as to new and future bookings.
• Emergency Surcharge (ES): At least one major carrier has announced an Emergency Conflict Surcharge, and additional carriers may implement similar measures depending on how operational conditions develop.
• Bunker Adjustment Charge (BUC): With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and suspended transits through the Bab Al Mandab Strait, many vessels are now rerouting via significantly longer alternatives, including the Cape of Good Hope. Rising oil prices driven by these disruptions are expected to push global bunker costs upward, and carriers are likely to pass on these additional fuel‑related expenses.

• Vessels Attacked In Arabian Gulf / Strait Of Hormuz
• MKD Vyom - Tanker
• Skylight - Tanker
• Athe Nova - Tanker
• MT Hercules Star - Tanker
• Ocean Electra (Star Electra) - Tanker
• Sea La Donna - Tanker
• Safeen Prestige - Container
• LCT Ayeh - Tanker
• Stena Imperative - Tanker
• Libra Trader – Tanker
• Musaffah 2 - Tanker
• Sonangol Namibe – Tanker
• Prima - Tanker
• MSC Grace – Container
• Gold Oak – Bulk
• Pelagia - Bulk
• Unknown Vsl - Tugboat

• Spot rates are rising, GRIs, War Risk and other related surcharges are being applied across the region and beyond
• Expect rising Bunker cost with the closure of the strait oil prices will increase and the bunker eventually as a result
• Anticipate congestion in Gulf ports and Asian transshipment hubs depending on rerouting of current cargo
• Equipment imbalance likely, with shortages of empties at a later stage

• Closed airspaces: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria, Yemen
• Open airspace in the region:  Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman 

• Oman / MCT – operational
• UAE / DWC, DXB, AUH – limited operations only, expected to reopen
• Qatar / DOH – not operational, expected to reopen
• Saudi Arabia –airports operational
• Bahrain – not operational 

• Middle Eastern Carriers will have to clear backlogs before accepting new bookings
• Air carriers have restricted operations to Middle East destinations, capacity constraints 

• Due to foreseeable impact on jet fuel price, carriers started to introduce FSC increases
• Indirect impact: Routing changes on EU-AP and AP-EU lanes lead to increased operating cost
• Alternative routings of GCC bound shipments will attract additional lead times and rate adjustments 

• Airspace and airport closures led to significant impact on global airfreight capacity
• Short to mid term rate increases on all sectors to/from Middle East will see increases
• Indirect impact on other global network lanes unavoidable due to limitation of available capacity 

• Rates adjustments: Airfreight rates to Middle East region have been suspended, rate levels to other regions will be updated on regular basis including temporary adders
• Airfreight rate originating from Europe, Asia and Americas will be subject to temporary adders on lane level
• Fuel surcharges subject to increase

• UAE customs is operational and all is working as of now

• Customs Operational in all ports

• Kuwait customs is operational and all ports are functioning now

• Hamad International Airport: Customs operational in all ports
• Hamad Port: Customs operational in all ports
• Abu Samra Border: Customs operational in all ports

• Bahrain Airport Services: Operation partially work from 9 to 15 evacuate mandatory if siren ring direct for safety purpose only medical items and food stuff allowed for deliveries subject to authorities approval and some shipment need to be booked in advance with customs
• Khalifa Bin Salman Port: Operation suspended and paritally non priorety shipment a few slots - only medical items and food stuff allowed for deliveries subject to authorities approval
• King Fahad Causeway: Normally operating as of now

• Airport: 
  • customs operational in all ports
• Seaport:
  • Customs operational in all ports

• BGW, EBL and BSR Airpots / UQ: Iraq customs is operational, but all flights still suspended
• IKB border with Turkey: Iraq customs is operational, but all flights still suspended

What is the status of vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz?

The strait remains effectively closed due to security and insurance constraints, so carriers are diverting or ending voyages early.

Which ports are being used as alternatives to Jebel Ali?

Carriers are discharging at Sohar, Salalah, Khorfakkan, Fujairah and Jeddah, with onward trucking into the GCC.

Is reefer cargo accepted at Jeddah?

Most carriers are temporarily restricting reefer and DG cargo into Jeddah except for critical humanitarian or pharma shipments.

Is there congestion in Jeddah or Suez?

Jeddah is operating normally for now and Suez has no reported backlog, though lead times may fluctuate.

Can Sohar be used for shipments into Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Sohar is operational and road connections into Riyadh and the wider GCC are functioning.

Are exports from Europe to Jebel Ali still possible?

Yes, with routing via Jeddah or Omani ports and onward bonded road transportation into the UAE.

Who pays war surcharges under CFR?

War surcharges billed by carriers fall to the contracting commercial party under the shipping terms.

Are goods insured during attacks on vessels?

Cargo value is covered under cargo insurance, but delay- or deviation‑related costs are not.

Is sea freight still transiting the Suez Canal?

Yes. Suez is open and services continue, with carriers adjusting routing based on safety conditions.

What are expected sea freight transit times to UAE?

Approx. 20–25 days depending on routing via Jeddah or Omani ports and added inland legs.

Is airfreight capacity improving?

Yes. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are gradually adding flights, restoring uplift into key hubs.

Are DHL-owned freighters operating?

Yes. DHL network flights into Riyadh and Oman are active and support global uplift.

Are shipments from Europe to GCC being accepted?

Yes. Collections continue and uplift is routed through Riyadh, Oman or Dubai depending on capacity.

What is the backlog situation for India–Europe airfreight?

Backlogs exist but are being cleared as additional network flights and commercial capacity return.

Which airlines are operating from France to Dubai?

Etihad and Emirates are restoring schedules, supplemented by selected European and regional carriers.

Are shipments into Israel possible?

Yes. Both Express and DGF Air have limited operational channels subject to security conditions.

Is multimodal routing via Egypt active?

Yes. Europe–Egypt–Saudi–GCC routing remains fully operational with stable transit times.

Is there a road alternative to Iraq?

Road corridors into Iraq are active with movements via Kuwait expected to resume.

Are Oman/Saudi borders open for bonded trucking?

Yes. GCC customs have simplified transit, and trucking is moving with minimal delays.

Have shipments already begun moving via Oman and Saudi?

Yes. Both import and export flows are already moving through the alternative gateways.

Are cross‑border timelines stable?

Yes. Borders remain open and delays are generally limited to 6–12 hours depending on cargo type.