UAE maritime navigation security

Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: The UAE adopts strict policies and measures to combat terrorist groups and organisations to fight terrorist acts that target the security of maritime navigation in the region, Khalifa Al Marar, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.

“It is necessary to emphasise the importance of the security of waterways in the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, especially in the Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb straits,” he said at the Manama Dialogue.

“Promoting the security and safety of international maritime navigation in this region is a challenge and a priority for the countries of the region. Threats to the security and safety of these waterways were never just a possibility. It was rather a reality as witnessed by the series of incidents and attacks that occurred over a long period of time. The threat still exists at the time being please allow me to touch on three points.”

The strait of Hormuz is the only water away from the Arabian Gulf to the high seas to the Arabian Sea and then the Indian Ocean and it is the most important strategic strength in the world through which about 25% of the world’s oil consumption passes and about a third of the world’s consumption of LNG, he added.