Several tankers transporting Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) have resumed sailing through the Red Sea after pausing for several days amid rising geopolitical tension.
Four vessels have resumed course through the critical trade route, which carries about 12 per cent of global shipping traffic, according to live updates from the Marine Traffic ship tracker.
The LNG tanker Al Rekayyat has recommenced its journey through the Red Sea and is en route to Qatar, the data indicates. It had been halted on its Red Sea route since January 13.
The vessels Al Ghariya, Al Huwaila, and Al Nuaman, carrying Qatari LNG, are on the move, but they have altered course to the south, despite still signalling the Suez Canal as their destination, the data showed.
The three tankers cut their speed on January 14 and started circling off the coast of Oman, east of the strait, Alex Froley, LNG analyst at ICIS, said in a report on Monday.
Al Rekayyat, which was returning to Qatar, cut its speed on January 13 and was paused in the middle of the Red Sea, he said.
QatarEnergy did not immediately respond to The National's requests for comment.
Major shipping companies have suspended their operations in the Red Sea after missile attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels, who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians, disrupting global trade as Israel's war in Gaza rages on.
US warplanes shot down a cruise missile fired by Houthi rebels at one of its warships in the Red Sea on Sunday.
Last week, the US and the UK launched air strikes on Houthi military positions across Yemen, pledging to protect the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
The Suez Canal is a major artery for global trade, with significant LNG exports mainly consisting of deliveries from Qatar to Europe and exports from the US and Russia to Asia.
“Qatari LNG could navigate around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Europe, adding at least 10 days to the voyage duration but saving on canal transit fees,” Xi Nan, senior vice president of gas and LNG markets research at Rystad Energy, told The National.
Qatar, the world’s second largest LNG exporter, shipped about 14 million tonnes of the gas to Europe in 2023, all through the Suez Canal, the Norway-based consultancy said.
In 2022, Qatar's LNG trade with Europe through the canal stood at 19.84 million tonnes.
“The good news … is that both Europe and the US have robust gas storage currently, and weather forecasts show slightly warmer than average temperatures for much of the northern hemisphere, excluding the US' current cold snap,” Ms Xi said.
Dutch Title Transfer Facility gas futures, the benchmark European contract, were trading 1.10 per cent lower at nearly €30 ($32.67) per megawatt hour on Tuesday.
Europe’s LNG imports hit a record high last year as Russia reduced its exports to the continent following its invasion of Ukraine.
However, demand this year has been weak due to a warmer-than-expected winter and high storage levels.
In early November, Europe’s underground gasfields, where the fuel is stored for consumption during peak demand in cold weather, were 98 per cent full.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
'I Want You Back'
Director:Jason Orley
Stars:Jenny Slate, Charlie Day
Rating:4/5
