Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Logistics and Services (ADNOC L&S) has spent $1.3 billion to expand its tanker fleet as the UAE increases crude exports and relies on maritime transport through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Bloomberg.

The company nearly doubled its Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) fleet to 14 vessels from eight. The expansion also includes five Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) capable of transporting fuels such as propane.

ADNOC L&S bought six VLCCs and three VLGCs on the secondary market, with the vessels scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2026. The remaining two VLGCs are newbuilds expected to arrive in Q4 2026.

The fleet expansion comes as tanker markets face tighter vessel availability and higher earnings. Also, ADNOC has used its own vessels and chartered tankers to move crude and refined products from the Gulf during the Iran war, with some voyages operating under military escort.

Moreover, the UAE has used a cross-country pipeline to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. However, the pipeline carries less than half of the approximately 3.6 million bbl/d of crude the UAE has exported over the past two months, making tanker capacity important to maintaining exports.

ADNOC L&S,  a global energy maritime logistics leader, is the shipping arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company(ADNOC).