The United Arab Emirates has announced it will withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the broader OPEC+ alliance, citing a shift toward prioritising national interests in a move that could send ripples through global energy markets.
According to a statement released on Tuesday and carried by the official WAM news agency, the UAE—one of the world’s leading oil producers—will formally exit the alliances on Friday. The decision comes at a time when energy prices are surging amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“This decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile,” the statement said, noting that the country had made “significant contributions and even greater sacrifices” during its time in the organisations.
The announcement follows longstanding tensions over production quotas, with the UAE previously expressing reservations about limits imposed by OPEC. Officials said the move was reached after a comprehensive review of the country’s current and future energy strategies.
UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei told Reuters that the decision was made independently, without consultation with other member states. “This is a policy decision… done after a careful look at current and future policies related to level of production,” he said.
The development comes as oil shipments across the Gulf face disruption due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supply typically passes. The UAE has also reportedly been affected by Iranian attacks during the ongoing regional conflict.
Strains in relations with neighbouring Saudi Arabia, a dominant force within OPEC and the world’s largest oil exporter, have further complicated the situation.
Meanwhile, presidential adviser Anwar Gargash criticised the response of Arab and Gulf states to recent Iranian attacks, saying they had not done enough to support the UAE during the crisis.
The withdrawal marks a significant shift in the UAE’s energy policy and could have far-reaching implications for the cohesion of global oil alliances and the stability of energy markets.
