The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it will withdraw from both OPEC and the OPEC+ alliance, effective Friday, citing a shift toward “national interests” and a long‑term strategic vision for its energy sector. The decision, conveyed in a statement released by the state news agency WAM, marks a significant change for one of the world’s leading oil producers, which has previously resisted OPEC‑imposed production quotas.
The statement said the UAE’s exit reflects “the UAE’s long‑term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile.” It added that while the country has “made significant contributions and even greater sacrifices for the benefit of all” during its membership, “the time has come to focus our efforts on what our national interest dictates.”
Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al‑Mazrouei told Reuters that the move follows a careful review of regional energy policies and production levels. When asked whether Saudi Arabia, the dominant force within OPEC, was consulted, the minister replied that the UAE did not raise the issue with any other country and that the decision was purely a policy matter.
The timing of the withdrawal coincides with heightened pressure on Gulf oil shipments. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one‑fifth of global oil passes—has constrained exports from the region, including those of the UAE. The UAE has also faced a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks that have targeted its facilities, prompting criticism of neighboring Arab states for insufficient protection.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, voiced similar concerns at the Gulf Influencers Forum, accusing regional partners of a weak response to the Iranian offensive. The UAE, a key economic hub and a close ally of the United States, has repeatedly called for stronger collective action against such attacks.
The departure from OPEC and OPEC+ removes the UAE from the group that coordinates production cuts and output targets among member states. Analysts note that while the UAE has often been at odds with OPEC’s quota system, its exit could alter the balance of supply decisions within the cartel, especially as global oil markets remain volatile due to geopolitical tensions.
The UAE’s move underscores a broader trend of individual producers reassessing collective arrangements in response to regional security challenges and shifting market dynamics. The next steps for the UAE will involve redefining its oil production strategy outside the OPEC framework while navigating the ongoing disruption to Gulf oil flows caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
