United Arab Emirates announces official withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+

Published at: 29/04/2026 08:09 AM

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially announced its departure from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the expanded OPEC+ alliance, a measure that will take effect on May 1. According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), this decision responds to a new long-term strategic and economic vision, aimed at strengthening the country's energy sovereignty and accelerating investments in its domestic production capacity.

The Emirati government justified this disintegration by pointing out the need to adapt its energy profile to the evolution of the global market. In addition to domestic investment objectives, the official statement highlights that the resolution also considers the recent disturbances in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, geopolitical factors that have influenced the logistical and commercial posture of the Arab nation.

The departure from the UAE marks a milestone in the history of the organization founded in 1960, of which it was part together with nations such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Venezuela. For decades, this block has been responsible for coordinating production policies to regulate supply and stabilize international oil prices, a dynamic that must now be readjusted in the absence of one of its most influential members.

The withdrawal affects the OPEC+ coalition, the extended group created in 2016 that includes ten additional countries, including Russia. With this rupture, the United Arab Emirates seeks greater autonomy in its market decisions, dissociating itself from the cuts and production quotas agreed by the organization, at a time of transformation for the global energy industry.

Mazo News Team