The UAE will withdraw from Opec and the wider Opec+ alliance from 1 May, marking a major shift in its oil policy, the state news agency WAM said today.
The decision follows a review of the country's production strategy and capacity outlook, with the UAE citing national interest and a need to respond more effectively to global oil demand.
The move comes at a time of heightened volatility in energy markets, driven by disruptions to shipping in the strait of Hormuz that have constrained oil and gas exports and reshaped supply flows. The UAE said the policy shift would allow it to better align its output with market conditions while maintaining its position as a "responsible and reliable" supplier.
The UAE has been a member of Opec since 1967, through Abu Dhabi, and remained part of the organisation following the UAE's establishment in 1971. Its exit represents one of the most consequential changes to the producer group in decades.
Abu Dhabi has expanded crude production capacity in recent years and has sought higher baselines under Opec+ quota frameworks, reflecting its ambition to monetise reserves and capture market share. Leaving the alliance will remove formal output constraints, allowing the UAE to raise production more freely, albeit gradually and in line with demand.
The UAE said it will continue to prioritise supply stability, cost competitiveness and sustainability, while investing across the energy value chain, including oil, gas, renewables and lower-carbon technologies.
