The UAE Is Set To Exit OPEC And OPEC+ As Of May 1, 2026

The UAE has announced that it will exit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its alliance with non-OPEC producers, OPEC+, effective May 1, 2026, following a review of its production policy, current and future capacity plans, and broader energy strategy.

The move makes the UAE the largest oil producer to leave OPEC and the fourth country to exit OPEC+ in recent years, following Angola in 2024, Ecuador in 2020, and Qatar in 2019. The decision marks a significant policy shift for one of the group's largest producers, giving the country greater flexibility to respond to changing market conditions and adjust output based on demand.

In its statement, the UAE said that the decision aligns with its long-term strategic and economic priorities, as well as its evolving energy profile and increased investment in domestic production capacity. The UAE added that it remains committed to supporting global energy market stability and meeting long-term demand. 

The announcement came amid continued volatility in global energy markets, including supply chain disruptions in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. While those disruptions have constrained shipments in the short term, the UAE said it expects global energy demand to rise over the medium and long term.

Commenting on the decision in a post on X, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure HE Suhail Mohamed Al-Mazrouei said, "The UAE’s decision to exit from OPEC reflects a policy-driven evolution aligned with long-term market fundamentals. We thank OPEC and its member countries for decades of constructive cooperation. We remain committed to energy security, providing reliable, responsible, and lower-carbon supply while supporting stable global markets."

HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, also posted on X, saying, "The UAE has taken a sovereign decision in line with its long-term energy strategy, its true production capability and its national interest, as well as global energy market stability. At ADNOC, our focus is unchanged: meeting the growing energy needs of our customers and partners around the world with reliability, responsibility, and the ambition to deliver more… across oil, gas, chemicals, and low carbon and renewable energy. Our commitment to our partners remains unwavering. For us, trust, partnership, and credibility are not talking points… They are a track record." 

Following the announcement, Al-Mazrouei told Reuters in a telephone interview that the UAE did not discuss the decision with other countries prior to the announcement. He also said that he does not expect a significant immediate market impact due to ongoing shipping constraints. In separate comments to Gulf News, Al Mazrouei noted that the country is moving ahead with a plan to raise its oil production capacity to 5 million barrels per day by 2027. 

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi first joined OPEC in 1967 and remained a member following the formation of the UAE in 1971. Today, the UAE is OPEC's fourth-largest oil producer. Abu Dhabi produced around 3.4 million barrels per day, or about three percent of global crude supply, before the US-Israeli war on Iran began. 

Image via Flickr/alex.ch.