The United Arab Emirates will leave OPEC and the wider OPEC+ alliance on May 1, 2026, a move aimed at giving the country more flexibility to respond to shifting global oil demand.
The UAE Energy Ministry announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that the exit will enable the country to gradually expand its production capacity and align with evolving market conditions.
The withdrawal deepens a long-running rift within the producers’ group, particularly between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, over output limits.
Abu Dhabi has repeatedly pressed for room to raise its own production, a stance that has put it at odds with the cartel’s quota system.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, criticised the weak response of regional blocs to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
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“The Gulf Cooperation Council countries supported each other logistically, but politically and militarily, I think their position has been the weakest historically,” Gargash said.
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The departure of one of OPEC’s key producers threatens to weaken the cohesion of the Saudi Arabia-led alliance as it manages global supply disruptions.
A more fragmented cartel could lead to higher output and potentially lower crude prices, an outcome that aligns with pressure from United States President Donald Trump for cheaper oil.
For the UAE, the move offers greater autonomy to maximise production capacity and capture more market share, though it carries diplomatic risks within the Gulf region.
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In March 2026, OPEC’s crude output fell by 27.5 per cent to 20.79 million barrels per day, one of the steepest drops in decades.
The group had planned to raise its collective quota by 206,000 barrels per day in May to offset supply losses tied to the conflict and the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
