UAE Announces Exit from OPEC and OPEC+, Citing Strategic Shift

The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday (April 28) that it will leave OPEC and OPEC+, a move that could reshape global oil markets and weaken the unity of the producers’ alliance.

UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei told Reuters that the decision followed a comprehensive review of the country’s energy strategy.

“This is a policy decision made after carefully examining current and future production policies,” he said, when asked whether other countries, including Saudi Arabia, had been consulted.

The UAE has been a key member of OPEC for decades, and its departure is seen as a significant blow to the group, which has often struggled to maintain cohesion amid disagreements over production quotas and geopolitical tensions.

The announcement comes at a time of heightened regional instability, including disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route affected by the ongoing Iran conflict.

Al-Mazrouei noted that the UAE’s exit is unlikely to have an immediate major impact on oil markets due to existing supply disruptions.

The decision has also attracted attention in Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously criticized OPEC, accusing the group of inflating oil prices and “ripping off the rest of the world.”