Current reporting indicates that, as of 26 March 2026, major state-linked energy suppliers in parts of the Gulf have declared force majeure, or equivalent contractual relief, in response to incidents affecting energy infrastructure and severe disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The principal examples reported to date are:
- Qatar: QatarEnergy in relation to certain LNG contracts.
- Bahrain: Bapco Energies following disruption linked to the Sitra refinery complex.
- Kuwait: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation in relation to crude and refined product exports.
That said, precision matters. The legal position is not that “the Gulf countries” have issued a single blanket declaration. The more accurate point is that certain affected suppliers, many of them state-owned or state-linked, appear to have invoked force majeure under specific contracts.
For parties operating in oil and gas, shipping, construction, logistics, and downstream supply chains, the issue is not the label. It is whether the applicable contractual and evidential threshold has been met.
The key considerations will usually be:
- Does the clause cover war, hostilities, infrastructure attacks, navigational disruption, blockade, or government intervention?
- Has the event genuinely prevented performance, or only made it slower, more difficult, or more expensive?
- Have notice requirements been complied with strictly and on time?
- What mitigation steps were reasonably available?
- What is the contractual consequence: for example, suspension, extension of time, allocation, price adjustment, or termination?
In disputes of this kind, outcomes are dependent on clause wording, causation, contemporaneous records, and the quality of the notice.
For counterparties considering issuing or receiving force majeure notices, this is the moment to review rights carefully rather than accept any position at face value.
Please contact Humayun Ahmad at hm.ahmad@hadefpartners.com for more information.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should seek independent legal counsel in relation to their specific circumstances.