A consortium of human engineers and artificial intelligence systems has unveiled a detailed proposal for a canal system that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz, potentially reshaping global energy transit and reducing Iran's leverage over international shipping. The plan, developed by Green Growth Technology (GGT), involves constructing two 116-kilometer sea-level canals, each 83 meters wide, connecting Fujairah Port to Sharjah Port Khalid within the United Arab Emirates. The project aims to provide a secure alternative route for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and ultra-large container ships, avoiding the Iranian coast by hundreds of miles.
The proposed canals would significantly reduce transit times and costs. Each vessel could save approximately 18 hours and 350 nautical miles, translating into $60,000 in Time Charter Equivalent savings, in addition to reduced war risk insurance premiums. The project, estimated to cost less than $100 billion, would be completed in under five years, leveraging advanced construction machinery and AI-driven project management.
Francis Sullivan, a spokesman for the consortium, emphasized the innovative nature of the proposal: “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 solutions are cleverer than humans could achieve on their own.”
Key to the feasibility is the use of AI-controlled construction machinery, including laser and water jet cutting, and modular mega machines that can be reused for future projects. The plan also incorporates automated geotechnical mapping, robotic stabilization, and continuous spoil logistics. These technologies shorten the construction timeline by 50-65% compared to conventional methods.
The project addresses the main technical challenge of the Hajar Mountains, which rise above 1,800 meters. Five teams would start simultaneously from both ends and the mountain area, using conventional equipment initially, then transitioning to specialized Chinese-built mega machines. The involvement of Chinese engineering firms, which recently completed the 135-kilometer Pinglu Canal in five years, is crucial to the project's speed.
Geopolitically, the proposal could position the UAE as a dominant regional power, as the canals would enable continuous export of Gulf oil and gas while bypassing Iranian waters. The ownership structure could include Gulf Cooperation Council states, key energy importers like Japan, South Korea, and India, with China as a builder and protector. A diplomatic source noted that Chinese involvement could serve as a deterrent: “If China built and then retained a small interest in the canals they could say hitting the canals was attacking China.”
The plan also includes early warning systems and laser weapons for defense, as the canals would be 233 miles from Iran at the closest point. The UAE's existing pipeline infrastructure would complement the canals, creating a double safety net for energy exports.
Compared to a previous proposal by Dubai architect Znera, which would cost over $600 billion, this plan is significantly more affordable and faster to implement. The consortium believes that the cost of using the canal will be lower than the Strait of Hormuz, making it attractive to shipping companies.
The proposal has been met with interest from regional power brokers, and negotiations are underway. The project could transform the UAE into an energy market stabilizer and reduce the ability of regional adversaries to threaten energy transit routes. As Captain Richard Byrne, COO of Green Growth Technology, stated, “This is a safe passage that saves 18 hours and over 350km and the clever tech just makes that happen.”
