UAE to Withdraw from OPEC Effective May 1, 2026

The United Arab Emirates announced its withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1, 2026, ending a 59-year membership that began in 1967, four years before the country was founded in 1971. The announcement came on April 28, 2026, with UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei stating the decision reflects the country's long-term strategic and economic vision, including accelerated investment in domestic energy production.

The UAE, OPEC’s third-largest oil producer accounting for roughly 12 percent of the group’s total output, has pushed back against OPEC production quotas in recent years, which it viewed as too low.

The country has invested heavily in expanding energy production capacity in recent years, according to Capital Economics. Analysts say the UAE has capacity to produce roughly 5 million barrels of crude oil a day. 4 million barrels of crude oil a day just before the US-Israeli war on Iran began on 28 February.

9 million barrels per day in March, as the UAE faced missile and drone attacks by Iran, a fellow OPEC member. Iran has conducted direct attacks on Emirati territory and shipping. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz shipping route, which carries around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports.

OPEC controls around 40 per cent of the world’s crude oil production. The UAE stated it will bring additional production to market in a gradual and measured manner, aligned with demand and market conditions.

43 tonnes of CO2 emissions. 6 million barrels of crude oil production per day by the UAE would release 250 million tonnes of CO2 annually. 250 million tonnes of CO2 annually is greater than the annual emissions of Spain.

The UAE hosted the United Nations COP28 climate talks in 2023. Nearly 200 countries pledged to move away from fossil fuels at COP28.

Sultan Al Jaber served as COP28 president. Sultan Al Jaber is CEO of the national oil company. Masdar is the UAE's state-owned renewable energy company. Masdar has investments in more than 40 countries around the world.

Masdar is a major player in European offshore wind. Hywind Scotland is the world's first floating offshore wind farm. Masdar has Hywind Scotland, England's Dogger Bank South, and Germany’s Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm (under construction) in its portfolio.

US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum spoke at an Abu Dhabi oil conference in November. US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said, 'Today’s the day to announce that there is no energy transition. The UAE’s exit weakens OPEC’s ability to regulate supply and prices.

Saudi Arabian air strikes targeted an Emirati weapons convoy at the port of Mukalla in Yemen on December 29, 2025. Saudi Arabia publicly demanded the withdrawal of all UAE forces from Yemeni territory in late 2025. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) was dissolved in early 2026.

Qatar left OPEC in 2019. The UAE has been a member of OPEC for nearly 60 years.