Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (Adnoc) has reportedly continued exporting oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz by using covert shipping practices and privately controlled vessels, allowing the United Arab Emirates energy giant to maintain supplies during months of heightened regional conflict.
According to traders, shipping analysts, and people familiar with the operations, Adnoc has been relying on practices known as “dark transits,” in which vessels travel through the Strait of Hormuz with tracking transponders switched off. The strategy has enabled the company to transport crude oil, refined fuels, and liquefied natural gas despite ongoing tensions involving Iran and US naval forces in the region.
The approach has made Adnoc one of the most active Middle Eastern producers still moving significant energy volumes out of the Persian Gulf during the prolonged conflict period. Analysts said many other producers and commodity traders have struggled to maintain similar operations because they depend on leased tankers whose owners are reluctant to accept higher security risks.
People familiar with the matter said Adnoc has instead relied heavily on vessels linked to Navig8, a shipping company majority-owned by Adnoc’s logistics division, as well as ships associated with Wanhua Chemical Group, one of its joint venture partners. The fleet reportedly includes crude tankers, fuel carriers, and liquefied gas vessels.
Industry observers said the UAE producer’s aggressive shipping strategy reflects mounting pressure among Gulf exporters to keep supplies flowing to global markets, particularly as storage capacity remains limited across the region.
The urgency has increased following the UAE’s official withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on May 1, a move that strengthened the country’s push to independently manage its oil exports and production strategy.
Matt Wright, senior freight analyst at intelligence firm Kpler, said Adnoc appeared more willing than many competitors to take operational risks in order to sustain exports.
“With the UAE leaving OPEC and finding ways to send ships through Hormuz in the dark, Adnoc has been willing to take more risks in order to get their oil out,” Wright said.
A spokesperson for Adnoc Logistics & Services declined to comment directly on vessel movements or shipping routes, saying company policy prevents discussing operational details regarding fleet positioning.
Sources said Adnoc’s system allows vessels to conduct repeated “shuttle runs” between Gulf export terminals and transfer locations outside the Strait of Hormuz. After passing through the waterway, tankers reportedly offload cargoes to customer-owned vessels near Fujairah, Sohar, or India’s western coastline.
The relatively short sailing distances enable ships to quickly return to UAE export hubs such as Zirku Island and the Ruwais refinery complex for additional cargoes. Analysts estimate a round-trip journey can be completed in roughly one week.
Ship-tracking data also suggests Adnoc has continued exporting liquefied natural gas cargoes through Hormuz using similar methods. One recent LNG shipment was reportedly seen heading toward western India after traveling through the strait without publicly broadcasting its location.
Satellite imagery further indicated LNG tankers have continued docking at Das Island, Adnoc’s major LNG export facility inside the Persian Gulf, even though vessel tracking signals in the surrounding waters have remained absent for extended periods.
According to shipping sources, empty LNG tankers typically approach the eastern side of Hormuz near Fujairah before turning off their transponders and continuing into Gulf waters to load cargoes at Das Island. Signals are restored only after the ships re-enter the Gulf of Oman.
Because many vessels disable tracking systems while crossing the region, determining the exact scale of Adnoc’s exports has become increasingly difficult. Maritime analysts said the practice has become more common as shipping companies seek to reduce security risks in contested waters.
The lack of visible signals has also made it unclear whether vessels are traveling along routes close to Oman or using northern shipping corridors that may require coordination with Iranian authorities.
Still, the continued flow of cargoes suggests Adnoc has managed to navigate the complex security environment without being blocked by either Iranian or US naval forces operating near the Strait of Hormuz.
The shipping activity comes as Washington and Tehran continue negotiations aimed at reducing tensions and reopening maritime access in the Gulf region. Senior US officials recently said both countries were nearing a possible agreement, although major disagreements remain over Iran’s nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump said over the weekend that a potential peace arrangement with Iran had been “largely negotiated,” though he stressed that Washington would not rush into a final deal.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes, carrying a substantial portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Any disruption in the waterway continues to raise concerns across global energy markets and among major import-dependent economies.
