UAE Exits OPEC, Escalating Tensions with Saudi Arabia Over Oil Production
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its departure from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and OPEC+, effective May 1, 2026. This decision marks the end of nearly 59 years of membership in the oil cartel. The UAE, which was producing approximately 3.5 million barrels of oil per day, is now free from the quota system that has regulated its output. This move could potentially add over 1 million additional barrels per day to the global oil market, equivalent to the daily oil consumption of a country like Spain. The decision to leave OPEC is rooted in longstanding tensions with Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the organization. These tensions date back to territorial disputes in the 1950s and have been exacerbated by disagreements over oil production quotas and differing strategies in regional conflicts, particularly in Yemen.