UAE to quit Opec in blow to oil exporters’ cartel
The United Arab Emirates has announced its departure from Opec after 60 years, marking a significant shift in the oil cartel's dynamics. This decision comes amid a global energy crisis and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The UAE aims to enhance its flexibility in oil production and align with its long-term economic vision.
- ▪The UAE was Opec's third-largest oil producer before its exit.
- ▪The departure is seen as a victory for Donald Trump, who has criticized Opec for inflating oil prices.
- ▪The UAE plans to increase its oil production to support its low-carbon future initiatives.
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Tankers at the Khor Fakkan container terminal in the United Arab Emirates. Photograph: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenTankers at the Khor Fakkan container terminal in the United Arab Emirates. Photograph: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty ImagesOpecUAE quits Opec in win for Trump as oil cartel weakenedUS president has accused organisation of ‘ripping off the rest of the world’ by inflating oil pricesJillian Ambrose Energy correspondentTue 28 Apr 2026 12.06 EDTFirst published on Tue 28 Apr 2026 08.59 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe United Arab Emirates has quit the Opec oil cartel after 60 years of membership, in a heavy blow to the group and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, as global energy markets contend with the biggest supply crisis in history.The shock…
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