Reuters: UAE’s exit from OPEC signals deepening rift with Saudi Arabia

The United Arab Emirates’ potential exit from OPEC and OPEC+ may reflect deepening long-standing disagreements with Saudi Arabia and a broader reassessment of oil governance in the region, according to Reuters.

Analysts said the move is driven not only by disputes over production quotas but also by Abu Dhabi’s growing push for greater independence in energy policy and reduced reliance on Saudi influence.

According to them, the development highlights widening strategic differences between the leadership of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, noting that relations between UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have become increasingly strained in recent years.

Expert Fawaz Gerges said the situation could represent “a more serious rift” than is commonly believed, pointing to growing political and economic disagreements.

Regional sources also link the tensions to differing approaches to conflicts in Yemen and Sudan, as well as disagreements over energy policy within the OPEC+ framework.

UAE officials say all decisions are based on national interests and aimed at ensuring stability in global oil markets, stressing that the country does not intend to withdraw from other international organisations.

Amid regional instability and the war with Iran, analysts say tensions are rising within Gulf states, alongside increasing competition and a gradual shift away from a unified regional strategy.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov