To see why disruption in the Gulf matters beyond oil and gas, start with a basic reality: much of the region cannot produce enough food domestically.

Across six Gulf Arab states — Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait — imports account for around 85% of food consumption, according to regional and industry estimates, rising to more than 90% for cereals. Even Oman, often described as the most self-sufficient of the group, still relies heavily on imports.

The reasons are largely geographic. Summer temperatures can reach 50°C, rainfall is low in many areas, and large-scale farming is difficult to sustain.

That’s where the Strait of Hormuz comes in. It is widely known as a crucial oil chokepoint, but it is also a major corridor for container ships and bulk carriers bringing food into Gulf ports. Under normal conditions, roughly 138 ships a day transit the strait, according to maritime monitoring bodies — carrying everything from grain to packaged goods, as well as energy cargoes.

Since the US–Israel war with Iran began and Iran retaliated, shipping through Hormuz has slowed sharply. Shipping intelligence outlets report vessels waiting at anchor and major carriers pausing or restricting Middle East bookings, increasing the risk of delays and higher costs.

For countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, alternatives are limited: much of their seaborne food supply has to pass through Hormuz. Temporary airspace closures in parts of the Gulf could further complicate logistics for high-priority cargo.

Gulf governments have moved to reassure residents, pointing to strategic grain and food reserves designed to last for months — but a prolonged disruption would still test supply chains, prices and public confidence.