The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it was quitting OPEC and the broader OPEC+ alliance, dealing a blow to the oil-producing groups and their de facto leader, Saudi Arabia. This is as the war involving Iran has triggered a major energy shock and rattled the global economy.
The departure of the UAE, a long-standing OPEC member, could disrupt the group and weaken its ability to project unity, which it has maintained despite internal divisions over geopolitics and production quotas. The move followed criticism from the UAE, a regional business hub and key ally of United States, that fellow Arab states had failed to adequately protect it from repeated Iranian attacks during the conflict.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, voiced frustration at what he described as a weak regional response during remarks at the Gulf Influencers Forum on Monday. “The Gulf Cooperation Council countries supported each other logistically, but politically and militarily, I think their position has been the weakest historically. “I expect this weak stance from the Arab League and I am not surprised by it, but I haven’t expected it from the (Gulf) Cooperation Council and I am surprised by it”, Gargash said.
UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei stated that the decision followed a review of the country’s energy strategy.
Producers in the Gulf have already faced difficulties exporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a key point between Iran and Oman, where roughly a fifth of global crude and liquefied natural gas supplies normally transit, due to threats and attacks on shipping.
Mazrouei said the UAE’s withdrawal was unlikely to have a major immediate impact on markets given the disruption in the strait.
The exit is seen as a political win for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly accused OPEC of inflating oil prices and criticised the group’s role in global energy markets.
Trump has also linked U.S. military protection for Gulf allies to oil pricing, arguing that while Washington provides security, producers “exploit this by imposing high oil prices.”
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