The UAE on 24 July 2026 welcomed an International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council declaration that strongly condemns Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz. Co-sponsored by more than 115 IMO member states, the resolution demands that Iran cease threats to navigation and calls for a maritime-security corridor to safeguard seafarers. Although the IMO session referenced incidents dating back to March, the overwhelming support sends a timely signal as tensions in the Gulf remain high. The Strait is a critical artery not only for global energy flows but also for air-cargo belly freight routed through Dubai and Abu Dhabi—both of which depend on uninterrupted bunkering and feeder-ship schedules. From a mobility standpoint, any closure of the strait would disrupt multi-modal supply chains, affect arrival of household goods shipments for assignees, and potentially inflate flight and shipping insurance premiums. The Council’s stance therefore offers some reassurance to relocation firms and corporate logistics teams planning late-summer moves. The UAE’s Permanent Representative to the IMO, Mohamed Al Kaabi, stressed that safe passage is essential for economic stability and the global cost of living. Mobility managers should nevertheless monitor maritime advisories and review force-majeure clauses in freight contracts to ensure coverage if security escorts become mandatory, which historically increased shipment costs by up to 30 percent during the 2019 tanker crisis. The resolution also urges IMO committees to examine broader implementation implications, hinting at possible updates to Best Management Practices (BMP 6) for ships transiting the Gulf and Gulf of Oman—another area mobility suppliers should watch.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
