Saudi Arabia is leveraging the Iran war to accelerate its ambitions of becoming a regional energy and logistics hub, even as the conflict disrupts global trade and weighs on economic growth across the Gulf.
Since fighting began on February 28, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been heavily restricted, forcing Gulf states to rely on alternative routes for energy exports and trade. Saudi Arabia’s decades-old East-West pipeline has allowed the kingdom to keep oil exports flowing, while its Red Sea ports and highway network have absorbed a growing share of regional commerce.
