MENA Port Pulse

The Houthis have threatened a naval blockade of Haifa port, considering all vessels bound for the city as legitimate military targets. Additionally, the Iraqi Resistance claimed to have targeted the port of Haifa with drones on July 30, 2026, and reaffirmed its commitment to continue targeting 'enemy's strongholds' and enforcing a blockade on 'Zionist maritime navigation'. The previous status was 'normal operations'.

Recent information suggests ongoing operations at Sohar Port. Alara Resources dispatched a copper concentrate shipment from Sohar Port on July 24, 2026. A Maersk operational update from July 22, 2026, also listed Sohar as a load port within its network. While the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, the port is clearly operational, albeit with likely disruptions.

Jeddah Port is operational but experiencing severe congestion in May 2026 due to the Strait of Hormuz closure and its role as a primary landbridge hub absorbing diverted cargo volumes.

Khalifa Port is inaccessible due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. As an Abu Dhabi port requiring Gulf transit, all major carriers including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC have suspended direct bookings. CMA CGM reroutes cargo via Khor Fakkan or Sohar as a landbridge alternative.

Commercial bookings suspended and airspace closed due to regional conflict.

Jebel Ali is inaccessible due to the ongoing Strait of Hormuz closure. Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC have all halted direct bookings. CMA CGM reroutes cargo via Khor Fakkan or Sohar as a landbridge alternative. Emergency freight surcharges apply to cargo already en route.

All major carriers including Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have suspended commercial bookings to Kuwait due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. While the port infrastructure remains physically operational under Security Level 2 protocols, no commercial container vessel calls are taking place.

Aden port is physically operational but under significant pressure due to the regional conflict. Shipping companies have imposed war-risk surcharges of up to $3,000 per container on Yemen-bound cargo. The disruption of Jebel Ali and regional hub ports has further complicated supply routes into Yemen, forcing carriers to seek costlier alternative routings.

Fujairah is impacted by the Strait of Hormuz closure since 28 February 2026. Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC have suspended direct bookings. CMA CGM uses it only as a multimodal relay, not a direct call. War-risk insurance premiums have spiked and vessel calls have dropped sharply.

Mina Salman port has been closed following an Iranian missile strike on the port vicinity. All major carriers have suspended commercial bookings to Bahrain due to the Strait of Hormuz closure.

Under active military attack; heavy infrastructure damage and fires reported.

Shuaiba port was initially suspended following debris fall near the port as a precautionary measure by Kuwait Ports Authority. Subsequently, all major carriers including Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd suspended commercial bookings to Kuwait due to the Strait of Hormuz closure, leaving the port functionally inaccessible for commercial container shipping.

Under Houthi control with restrictive security protocols; UN mission ending.

Qatar's primary container gateway has been cut off as a direct consequence of the Strait of Hormuz crisis. With no alternative sea access to the Gulf, vessel calls have ceased entirely. Cargo destined for Qatar is being rerouted overland via the Saudi land border using TIR customs procedures, or through Jeddah and Sohar as feeder relay points.

Maersk bookings to Khor Fakkan port on April 28, 2026, are accepted for imports only, excluding other regions due to operational suspensions. Cargo discharge operations for general cargo and containers continue as scheduled without any disruption, indicating restricted but not fully suspended operations.

Salalah is operational for ocean bookings (dry, reefer, OOG). However, landside trucking from Salalah to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar is temporarily paused. DG cargo is suspended. Transhipment to non-upper Gulf countries remains accepted.

King Abdullah Port remains fully operational as a key Red Sea alternative unaffected by the Strait of Hormuz closure. All major carriers accept bookings. It operates alongside Jeddah as one of the two main Saudi Red Sea gateways absorbing diverted cargo volumes from suspended Upper Gulf ports.