UAE says OPEC, OPEC+ exit was sovereign strategic decision, not political move

Energy minister says exit rooted in long-term economic vision, evolving energy capabilities

The United Arab Emirates' decision to withdraw from OPEC and OPEC+ was a sovereign and strategic choice based on a comprehensive assessment of its production policy and future capabilities, the UAE energy minister, Suhail Al Mazrouei, said on Saturday in a post on X.

Mazrouei added that the move was not politically motivated and did not reflect divisions with partners.

The UAE announced late April that it was quitting OPEC on May 1, dealing a blow to the oil producers' group as an unprecedented energy crisis caused by the Iran war exposed discord among Gulf nations.

"It is not driven by political considerations, nor does it reflect any division between the UAE and its partners", Mazrouei added.

The UAE’s decision to exit OPEC and OPEC+ is a sovereign strategic choice rooted in its long-term economic vision, evolving energy capabilities, and enduring commitment to global energy security.
This decision follows a comprehensive assessment of national production policy and…

— سهيل المزروعي (@HESuhail) May 16, 2026

Read: OPEC exit: Why the UAE is leaving and what it means?

The exit of the UAE - one of the group's biggest producers - weakens OPEC's control over global oil supplies and widens a rift between the UAE and its neighbour, Saudi Arabia, effectively the leader of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The UAE's decision to withdraw from OPEC and OPEC+ gives Abu Dhabi greater control over its oil production policy and could increase pressure on the producer alliance over time.