The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned what it described as an Iranian attack on vessels affiliated with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while they were transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The incident, reported in August 2026, has further heightened concerns over maritime security and the safety of commercial shipping in the region.
According to UAE authorities, two ADNOC-linked vessels were targeted while passing through the waterway. No injuries were reported, and ADNOC said the situation was brought under control. The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned the incident as a hostile attack and accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of targeting commercial shipping. Tehran had not immediately responded to the allegations.
The UAE said attacks on commercial vessels and attempts to use the Strait of Hormuz as a means of economic pressure or coercion pose a direct threat to regional stability and global energy security. Abu Dhabi also called for an end to hostilities and emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes, carrying substantial volumes of crude oil and natural gas between Gulf producers and international markets. Repeated attacks and disruptions have already affected maritime traffic and increased concerns about energy supplies, shipping costs and wider regional escalation.
The latest incident adds to a growing series of maritime confrontations involving ADNOC-linked vessels and underscores the increasing security risks facing commercial shipping in the Gulf.
