Posted on March 2, 2026
By DredgeWire
Port and maritime operations across the Middle East have experienced significant disruption since the start of the U.S.–Israel strikes on Iranian military targets, with multiple incidents reported at major commercial and energy terminals and vessel traffic slowing across the region.
In the UAE, operations at DP World’s Jebel Ali Port were temporarily suspended following a security incident involving intercepted debris that caused a localized fire near a container berth. According to regional coverage reported by the Times of India, the terminal halted cargo movements for several hours while authorities conducted safety inspections and cleared affected areas. Although physical damage was limited, shipping lines delayed arrivals and departures as security protocols were tightened. The Port has since reopened.
Additional disruptions were reported at Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi, where an explosion in the vicinity of port facilities triggered precautionary operational restrictions.
In Oman, drone strikes impacted Port of Duqm, injuring workers and forcing a temporary suspension of commercial cargo operations.
Energy logistics have also been affected. A products tanker was struck by projectiles while alongside at a terminal in Bahrain, according to Reuters, prompting emergency response measures and a temporary halt to nearby marine operations. In Saudi Arabia, drone activity near Ras Tanura led to precautionary shutdowns affecting oil export logistics.
Shipping conditions across the region have tightened. Reuters reported that roughly 150 vessels were waiting or delaying transit near the Strait of Hormuz as operators reassessed risk exposure and war-risk insurance availability.
Israel has also experienced direct operational impacts. At the Port of Ashdod and Port of Haifa, heightened security conditions and intermittent missile alerts have slowed cargo handling and vessel turnaround times, with authorities implementing protective operating procedures and temporary workforce stand-downs during active threat periods, according to Israeli government and regional media reports.
While no major commercial port has suffered catastrophic structural damage, the operational effects are becoming more significant than the physical impacts. Vessel delays, suspended sailings, elevated insurance costs, and increased security protocols are constraining throughput across multiple Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean gateways.
For maritime and port operators, the emerging risk is not, at least not yet, infrastructure loss—but network disruption. As long as security uncertainty persists, carriers, energy shippers, and logistics providers are expected to continue reducing exposure to the region, with ripple effects likely across global supply chains.
