Hormuz shipping disruption raises food supply risk for Gulf states reliant on imports
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Dubai, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Shipping disruptions linked to the Iran war matter beyond oil because Gulf Arab states import most of their food, and much of it moves through the Strait of Hormuz.
Six Gulf Arab nations, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, import about 85% of their food, according to the data cited. That figure rises to more than 90% for cereals. Even Oman, described as the most self-sufficient of them, still imports the vast majority of its food.
The Gulf’s climate limits large-scale farming. Summer temperatures regularly hit 50 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall averages below 100 millimetres in most areas, the data shows.
The Strait of Hormuz is best known as a major oil chokepoint, but it is also a key route for the Gulf’s food imports. Around 138 ships pass through it every day under normal conditions, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center, carrying oil, gas and a large share of the region’s imported food.
Since the United States Israeli war with Iran began and Tehran retaliated, tanker traffic through the strait has slowed sharply, according to the shipping intelligence publication Lloyd’s List. It reported around 200 ships stranded at anchor, while most major carriers have suspended Middle East bookings entirely.
For Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, the draft says there is little workaround because most maritime food shipments must pass through Hormuz. It adds that airspace closures across several Gulf countries could further compound the disruption.
Gulf governments have sought to reassure the public about supply stability since the war began, and the draft says most have large emergency grain and food reserves that could last several months.
