What are OPEC and OPEC +, and why has the UAE quit?
The United Arab Emirates has announced its withdrawal from OPEC and the OPEC+ alliance, effective May 1, 2026, citing national interests amid shifting foreign policy and energy strategies. The move comes during heightened regional tensions due to the US-Israel war on Iran, which has disrupted global energy markets. OPEC, founded in 1960, coordinates oil production among member states to stabilize prices, while OPEC+ extends this cooperation to non-members like Russia. The UAE's exit follows a trend of countries leaving over disputes on output quotas and policy disagreements.
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News|OPECWhat are OPEC and OPEC +, and why has the UAE quit?The Gulf state is the latest to quit the group, which was created to form a united front on oil pricing.ListenListen (4 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoThe Khurais oilfield northeast of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [File: Amr Nabil/AP]By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 28 Apr 202628 Apr 2026The United Arab Emirates has announced its withdrawal from OPEC and the wider OPEC+ framework, removing a core pillar of one of the most influential groups in the energy world.The Gulf country, with a capacity of approximately 4.8 million barrels per day and significant room to increase output, announced on Tuesday that it would quit the organisation to focus…
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