A consortium of American AIs and human engineers has unveiled a proposal for a twin-canal system through the United Arab Emirates that would allow supertankers to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, effectively removing Iran's ability to threaten global oil shipments. The proposal, costing under $100 billion and scheduled for completion in four years, could shift the balance of power in the region by making the UAE a dominant energy transit hub.
The plan involves constructing two 116-kilometer-long, sea-level canals, each 83 meters wide, running from Fujairah Port to Sharjah Port Khalid. These canals would accommodate Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and ultra-large container ships, providing a direct route that saves 18 hours and 350 nautical miles per voyage, along with significant war-risk insurance premiums. The project leverages AI-driven design and construction techniques, including mega-machines that cut, line, and stabilize the canals simultaneously, reducing build time by 50-65% compared to conventional methods.
According to the consortium, the use of three AIs allowed for the solving of technical and logistical barriers that previously made such a canal impractical. Francis Sullivan, spokesman for the group, stated, "Our target was to see if we could build a canal system in under 5 years and costing less than $100 billion including reusable mega cutting equipment. The reason that this has not been proposed in this form before was because humans and AIs have never been able to work like this before." The AIs optimized everything from waste removal to environmental impact, with much of the excavated rock being reused for construction.
The strategic implications are profound. By offering a secure alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil passes, the canals would undermine Iran's ability to blackmail the West with threats of closure. The UAE, already home to three pipeline systems, would become the region's transit power, with expanded storage facilities in Fujairah turning it into a major oil storage and trading hub beyond the Strait.
Geopolitically, the proposal suggests a consortium of owners, including the UAE, Gulf Cooperation Council states, and major energy importers like Japan, South Korea, and possibly India. Crucially, if China retains a small interest, any attack on the canals could be construed as an attack on China, providing a powerful deterrent. The United States could also play a strategic defense role, though the proposal notes that Iran's reaction remains a concern.
Captain Richard Byrne, Chief Commercial Officer of Green Growth Technology, highlighted the technological innovations: "This is different because we used our human team and three AIs to look at every technical reason a canal had not been built and we solved those problems." The design includes automated oil spill response systems, laser weapons for defense, and the use of AI-controlled modular machines that can be reused for future mega-projects worldwide.
The proposal comes at a time when Gulf countries are exploring ways to cut out the US and fund Iranian development in exchange for peace. If adopted, the canals could be operational by around 2031, meaning no non-Iranian ships would need to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This would decisively alter the security landscape of the region, providing a safe passage that saves time and money while neutralizing a long-standing threat to global energy supplies.
