The potential threats from maritime terrorism and piracy are magnified as the entire region is dependent on only three main sea lanes to fuel its economy – the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al Mandeb and the Suez Canal. While security is always uppermost in the minds of the oil and gas industry, the reduction in the number of acts of piracy is no basis for complacency, especially in these vulnerable and strategically critical areas.
The Arabian Peninsula is the largest in the world with a landmass of 3.2 million square kilometre. It is home to 78 million people in seven countries, most with long coastal borders, huge ports and industrial installations, especially in the waters of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). From the Gulf of Aqaba, down the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea and into the Arabian Gulf – this huge expanse of water is the conduit for more than 30 percent of all crude oil shipments generated by 169 oil rigs channelled through 19 oil terminals – excluding a further nine in Iran.
Apart from the shipping lanes themselves, the boundaries of the Arabian Peninsula are shared with some of the world’s most volatile nations where rule of law is compromised by terrorist groups, such as Al Qaeda, ISIS and Al Shabab.
