ABUJA, Nigeria — The United Arab Emirates will leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ alliance on May 1, 2026, in a move the UAE says will let it respond more flexibly to shifting global oil demand.
Okay News reports that the decision was announced by the UAE Energy Ministry on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, and confirmed by Bloomberg. The ministry stated 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, especially 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. The split has been further shaped by the current Middle East conflict.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, sharply criticised the weak response of regional blocs to the war. “The Gulf Cooperation Council countries supported each other logistically, but politically and militarily, I think their position has been the weakest historically,” Gargash said, according to Reuters. “I expect this weak stance from the Arab League and I am not surprised by it, but I haven’t expected it from the Cooperation Council and I am surprised by it.”
The departure of one of OPEC’s key producers threatens to weaken the cohesion of the Saudi Arabia-led alliance as it attempts to manage global supply disruptions. A more fragmented cartel could lead to higher output and potentially lower crude prices, an outcome that would align with pressures from United States President Donald Trump, who has consistently linked American military support for Gulf nations to cheaper oil.
For the UAE, the move offers greater autonomy to maximise its production capacity and capture more market share, though it carries diplomatic risks within the Gulf region. In March 2026, OPEC’s crude output fell by 27.5 percent 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.
 and the wider OPEC+ alliance on May 1, 2026, in a move the UAE says will let it respond more flexibly to shifting global oil demand.){kind=link}