UAE leaves OPEC and OPEC+ in huge blow to global oil producers’ group
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its exit from OPEC and OPEC+, significantly impacting the oil producers' group. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions in the region and critiques of the organization's effectiveness in protecting its members. UAE officials stated that the move aligns with their national energy strategies and was made independently of other countries.
- ▪The UAE quit OPEC and OPEC+, marking a significant shift in the oil exporting group's dynamics.
- ▪UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei emphasized that the decision was based on the country's energy strategies.
- ▪The exit is seen as a response to perceived inadequacies in regional support against Iranian threats during ongoing conflicts.
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UAE leaves OPEC and OPEC+ in huge blow to global oil producers’ groupSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxOPEC Gulf producers have already been struggling to ship exports through the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes.PHOTO: REUTERSPublished Apr 28, 2026, 08:33 PMUpdated Apr 29, 2026, 07:18 AMListenDUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on April 28 it quit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and OPEC+, dealing a heavy blow to the oil exporting groups and their de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, at a time when the Iran war has caused a historic energy shock and unsettled the global economy.The loss of the UAE, a longstanding OPEC member, could create disarray and weaken the group,…
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