The Border Ports Authority announced today, Friday (May 1, 2026), the launch of the first crude oil export operations through the Rabia border crossing, dispatching 70 tankers as an initial batch. Authority head Omar Adnan Al-Waili confirmed in a statement that this step represents a strategic activation of the crossing as a vital export corridor, contributing to diversifying marketing channels and relieving pressure on other outlets, thereby enhancing national revenues. He explained that the first shipment headed towards Syrian territory, with a plan to gradually increase the number of tankers according to regulatory and security controls. He noted ongoing work to develop the infrastructure and logistical services at the crossing to increase its capacity, considering land export a strategic option that reduces risks and activates the crossings' role as economic hubs with neighboring countries.