By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
One of the world’s largest refineries has suspended operations as a “precautionary measure” following a drone attack in the United Arab Emirates, a source familiar with the matter has confirmed. The incident marks a significant escalation in a regional conflict that is now directly targeting critical energy infrastructure and threatening global oil supplies.
The Ruwais refinery, a flagship facility of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), halted production after an attack on the broader Ruwais Industrial City. The Abu Dhabi Media Office earlier confirmed that a fire broke out in the industrial zone due to a drone strike.
It remains unclear if the refinery complex itself was directly hit, with the source and authorities declining to provide further details. A driver at the scene told AFP that staff were ordered to evacuate, and as they were leaving, “we saw two more bursts of fire rising from the complex, with loud sounds like explosions.”
Adnoc describes its Ruwais facility as “the world’s fourth-largest single-site refinery,” underscoring the strategic importance of the now-idled asset.
The attack is the latest in a coordinated campaign by Iran to cripple Gulf energy production and exports in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that ignited the broader Middle East war.
Tehran appears to be tightening its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil flows. The strait has effectively been closed by the conflict, severing a key artery of the global economy.
The disruption has not been limited to the UAE. Saudi Arabia’s energy sector has also come under direct fire, with Iran targeting facilities including Saudi Aramco’s sprawling Ras Tanura complex. The massive Ras Tanura facility, a cornerstone of the Saudi energy sector on the Gulf coast, has halted some operations. Saudi oil fields have also been struck.
Amin H. Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, warned of the escalating crisis. He stated that the war could have “catastrophic consequences” on oil markets if the situation persists and issued an urgent call for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. “It’s absolutely critical that shipping resumes in the Strait of Hormuz,” Nasser said, adding that while the industry has faced previous disruptions, “this one by far is the biggest crisis the region’s oil and gas industry has faced.”
The Gulf region, rich in energy resources, is now bearing the brunt of a multi-pronged assault. “The Gulf energy sector is getting whacked from multiple angles,” said Robert Mogielnicki, a non-resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute. “Energy facilities being targeted, export capability through the strait is hampered, and storage capacity is filling up.”
The cumulative effect of these disruptions has sent shockwaves through global markets. Oil prices have swung wildly, spiking 30% on Monday amid supply fears before retreating on comments from US President Donald Trump suggesting the war may soon de-escalate.
However, with key infrastructure offline and the world’s most critical oil chokepoint closed, the stability of global energy supplies remains deeply precarious.
