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The UAE’s exit - amid war-driven oil disruptions - marks one of the most significant blows to OPEC in recent history, weakening the group’s influence over global oil supply.
Nazeem Noushad
The United Arab Emirates has announced it will leave OPEC and the wider OPEC+ alliance effective May 1, ending nearly six decades of membership.
The decision, confirmed by state news agency WAM, follows a strategic review of the country’s energy policy and long-term production goals.
As OPEC’s third-largest producer, the UAE’s departure is expected to undermine the cartel’s ability to coordinate output and stabilize prices, especially during a period of geopolitical instability.
The move comes as the ongoing conflict involving Iran has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints—pushing crude prices above $110 per barrel.
Analysts say the UAE has long been frustrated with production quotas that limit its ability to expand output, as it seeks to increase capacity and gain greater market
flexibility outside the group.
While the immediate impact on supply may be limited due to ongoing regional disruptions, the long-term implications are significant. The exit signals growing fractures within OPEC and could lead to increased volatility in global oil markets.
The UAE, which joined OPEC in 1967, now joins a list of countries—including Qatar and Angola—that have stepped away from the alliance in recent years, raising questions about the cartel’s future cohesion.
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