UAE Exits OPEC and OPEC+: What the Historic Withdrawal Means

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UAE Exits OPEC and OPEC+: A Historic Break After Six Decades

By TRH World Desk

New Delhi, April 28, 2026 — The United Arab Emirates has officially announced its withdrawal from both OPEC and OPEC+. The decision will come in effect from May 1, 2026. With the announcement, the UAE ends a membership stretching back nearly 60 years. The decision has already sent shockwaves through global energy markets.

The announcement, made through the UAE state news agency WAM on the eve of an OPEC ministerial meeting in Vienna, marks the most consequential departure from the cartel since Qatar’s exit in 2019.

In its official statement, WAM said: “This decision follows a comprehensive review of the UAE’s production policy and its current and future capacity and is based on our national interest and our commitment to contributing effectively to meeting the market’s pressing needs.”

The statement also cited evolving market conditions. It stated that “near-term volatility, including disruptions in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, continues to affect supply dynamics.” However, the statement emphasised “sustained long-term growth in global energy demand.”

Analysts argued that the “move reflects Abu Dhabi’s long-held ambition to increase output without the constraints imposed by cartel quotas.” The UAE has stated its desire to raise production from 3.4 million barrels per day to five million by 2027.

The UAE is facing a steep financial crisis in the wake of the Middle East crisis on account of the Iran war. The UAE per analysts aims to step up oil productions to deal with the financial stress faced by the emirate.

In a pointed farewell, WAM’s statement signalled a clear pivot: “We reaffirm our appreciation for the efforts of both OPEC and the OPEC+ alliance and wish them success. During our time in the organisation, we made significant contributions and even greater sacrifices for the benefit of all.”

It may be noted that the UAE is a founding member of OPEC. The Gulf nation had joined the exporters’ group in 1967. That was four years before the founding of the nation itself. The UAE is the world’s seventh-largest oil producer.

Now the focus is on Saudi Arabia. Analysts claim that the rupture in the cartel may have ramifications for the OPEC’s pricing power.