UAE withdraws from Arab petroleum exporting countries group

The Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) said on May 3  that the United Arab Emirates has officially withdrawn from the organisation, with the decision having taken effect on May 1, 2026.

In a statement, OAPEC’s General Secretariat said it had received a letter from UAE Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei addressed to Khalifa Rajab Abdul Sadiq, who chairs the group’s Council of Ministers, confirming Abu Dhabi’s decision to leave the group, of which it has been a member for 58 years, Caliber.Az reports per the organisation's statement.

بيان صادر عن منظمة الأقطار العربية المصدرة للبترول (أوابك)
بشـــــــأن انسحاب دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة من عضوية المنظمة

أحيطت الأمانة العامة لمنظمة الأقطار العربية المصدرة للبترول (أوابك) علماً بكتاب معالي المهندس سهيل محمد المزروعي، وزير الطاقة والبنية التحتية في دولة… pic.twitter.com/LN4BFrU3Ew

— أوابك (@OAPEC1) May 3, 2026

The organisation expressed appreciation for the UAE’s contributions during its membership, highlighting its role in supporting joint Arab cooperation in the petroleum and energy sectors.

OAPEC added it remains committed to strengthening collaboration among its remaining members and advancing shared interests through its strategic programmes.

Earlier, on April 28, the United Arab Emirates said it was quitting OPEC.

"This ​is a policy decision, it has been done after a careful look at current and future policies related to level of production," ⁠Mazrouei said then.

By Sabina Mammadli