The United Arab Emirates announced today that it will leave OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1
By Bernie,
The United Arab Emirates announced today that it will leave OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1, in a major break with the Saudi-led oil cartel. According to the state news agency WAM, Abu Dhabi said the decision "aligns with the country's long-term strategic and economic vision and the development of its energy sector," and indicated that it intends to gradually boost its oil production following the withdrawal.
Analysis: The move is widely seen as a direct challenge to Saudi Arabia and a continuation of the deepening rift inside the Gulf Cooperation Council. The UAE has long pushed for a higher production quota within OPEC+, arguing that its own expanded capacity is being constrained by Riyadh-driven output cuts, and the decision to walk away is the clearest signal yet that Abu Dhabi is no longer willing to subordinate its energy strategy to the Saudi-led framework. The timing is also notable, coming amid the ongoing American naval blockade of Iranian oil exports and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has tightened global supply and given non-Iranian Gulf producers significant additional leverage.
Topics: Iran, Strait of Hormuz
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