The move comes just days after the Gulf nation broke with OPEC and OPEC+, citing the need to gain more flexibility over oil output<\/p>\n
The United Arab Emirates has officially withdrawn from the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), according to a statement\u00a0posted by the group on X on Sunday.
\nThe exit took effect on May 1 \u2013 the same day Abu Dhabi\u2019s withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the wider OPEC+ format, which includes Russia, came into force.
\nThe decision came amid ongoing Middle East turmoil triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. A dual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz \u2013 a key route for about 20% of global oil flows \u2013 along with repeated US warnings that strikes could resume, has pushed crude prices to multi-year highs.
\nOAPEC, headquartered in Kuwait, was established in 1968 to boost economic cooperation among Arab oil exporters. Its three founders \u2013 Kuwait, Libya, and Saudi Arabia \u2013 were later joined by other Arab states, and prior to the UAE\u2019s departure the group comprised 11 members, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Syria, and Tunisia. Unlike OPEC and OPEC+ groupings \u2013 which include major oil producers worldwide and play a direct role in managing supply and prices \u2013 OAPEC is primarily a technical body coordinating energy policy among Arab producers.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
OPEC+ makes first output decision after UAE exit \u2013 Reuters<\/p>\n
\u201cThe General Secretariat of the OAPEC has been informed of a letter from\u2026 Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure\u2026 containing the decision of the UAE to withdraw from membership in the Organization, effective from 1 May 2026,\u201d the group said.
\nIt voiced no opposition, saying it \u201cappreciates the role played by the UAE\u201d during its membership and its \u201ceffective contributions\u201d to advancing joint Arab cooperation in the petroleum and energy sector.
\nAbu Dhabi has not yet commented on the decision. The Gulf nation previously said its exit from OPEC and the broader OPEC+ format was driven by national interests, describing it as part of a long-term strategy to gain more flexibility over oil output, free from production caps and multilateral restrictions.
\nThe move, however, has fueled debate over potential repercussions\u00a0for OPEC and the oil market, as well as speculation about underlying motives.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
The UAE\u2019s OPEC gambit: Clever power play or road to chaos?<\/p>\n
Some analysts pointed to possible political considerations, including alignment with the US, which has long sought a stronger foothold in the global oil market. US President Donald Trump, who has frequently accused OPEC of acting as a monopoly to keep prices high, welcomed the exit as \u201cgreat\u201d news.
\nUAE Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi said on Monday the nation is in talks with Washington over a currency swap line \u2013 an instrument that allows central banks to access each other\u2019s currencies without using foreign exchange markets, lowering costs and exchange-rate risks for cross-border activity. He described it as part of an \u201celite group\u201d arrangement the US maintains with just five regions: Canada, Japan, the Eurozone, the UK, and Switzerland.
\nOil markets reacted to the UAE\u2019s withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ with short-term volatility, but most analysts suggest the near-term impact will be limited. Although the move could allow output to rise eventually, exports remain constrained by the naval blockade in the Persian Gulf. Days after the announcement, seven OPEC+ members agreed to raise combined crude production by 188,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June 2026 \u2013 a move many said signaled business as usual.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Kremlin comments on UAE decision to quit OPEC<\/p>\n
UAE Energy Minister Al Mazrouei said on Monday the decision to quit was made on \u201cgood terms\u201d with OPEC members. Speaking at the \u2018Make It In The Emirates\u2019 conference, he said the UAE will continue to work closely with other oil-producing countries, including members of OPEC and OPEC+, despite leaving the cartel.
\nRussia earlier said it respects the UAE\u2019s decision to withdraw from OPEC, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the nation has a \u201csovereign\u201d right to do so. Moscow signaled it has no plans to leave OPEC+ and dismissed suggestions the UAE\u2019s exit could spell the end of the group.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The move comes just days after the Gulf nation broke with OPEC and OPEC+, citing the need to gain more flexibility over oil output The United Arab Emirates has officially…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34715,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t