UAE says exit from OPEC, OPEC+ is “strategic choice”

The United Arab Emirates has described its decision to withdraw from OPEC and OPEC+ as a strategic move driven by long-term national development priorities.

Afra Al Hameli, Director of the Strategic Communications Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a post on X that the decision reflects a sovereign economic vision rather than a short-term political shift.

The UAE’s decision to exit OPEC is a sovereign, strategic choice grounded in its long-term economic vision. It reflects a deliberate move to enhance flexibility in deploying its energy capacity- strengthening national development, reinforcing market confidence, and supporting…

— Afra Al Hameli (@AfraMalHameli) April 28, 2026

“The UAE’s decision to exit OPEC is a sovereign, strategic choice grounded in its long-term economic vision,” she stated.

Al Hameli added that the move is intended to strengthen national development and contribute to broader global energy stability. She also stressed that the UAE would remain a reliable partner in international energy markets despite leaving the organisation.