UAEs decision to leave OPEC marks end of Gulf cooperation

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UAE Announces Withdrawal from OPEC

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its intention to withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), effective May 1, 2026. The decision was made by Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei, who cited flexibility and productive capacity as reasons for the move.

Markets have taken note of the timing, with the Strait of Hormuz partially closed, which is expected to limit the immediate price impact on oil markets. Analysts have also pointed to longstanding tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia over quotas imposed on Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) ambition to reach five million barrels per day.

The UAE’s departure from OPEC marks a significant shift in regional dynamics, with analysts noting that it reflects a deepening rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. The two countries have been nominal allies for decades, but tensions have escalated in recent years, culminating in Saudi Arabian air strikes on Emirati forces in Yemen in December 2025.

The UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC is seen as a response to what Riyadh perceives as a structural threat to its security environment. The country has built a doctrine of force projection through non-state actors in Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, which Riyadh now views as a rival policy. By leaving OPEC, the UAE is signaling its desire for greater sovereignty and autonomy.

The move also highlights an internal legitimacy crisis within OPEC+, with analysts noting that the organization’s perceived alignment with Russian interests has eroded its credibility in Washington. The Trump administration had previously linked American military support in the Gulf to oil prices, and the UAE’s departure from OPEC sends a signal of distancing from this architecture.

The UAE’s decision marks an important turning point in regional politics, as it signals that even major players within OPEC can now calculate that their interests are better served outside the organization. The move is also seen as a significant blow to OPEC’s legitimacy, which has been facing internal challenges and criticism from some member states.

Source: Al Jazeera