The United Arab Emirates has defended its decision to withdraw from the Saudi Arabia–dominated OPEC, insisting the move was based on national priorities rather than geopolitical tensions.
Speaking on Monday, Sultan Al Jaber—who leads the state oil firm Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)—said the decision was a “sovereign” one aimed at strengthening the country’s economic and industrial future.
“The United Arab Emirates’ sovereign decision to reposition itself within the global energy landscape… is not a decision directed against anyone,” he said at a conference in Abu Dhabi.
The exit, which took effect Friday, comes after months of friction with Saudi Arabia over oil production quotas, foreign policy differences, and regional conflicts, including tensions linked to Yemen. Despite this, Al Jaber maintained that the move was not targeted at any country.
Analysts, however, say the withdrawal marks a significant shift in Gulf dynamics. As OPEC’s fourth-largest producer, the UAE’s departure weakens the cartel’s influence over global oil prices and signals growing rivalry within the region.
For the UAE, the decision is largely economic. The country has long expressed frustration with OPEC-imposed production caps, which limited its output to about 3.4 million barrels per day. Abu Dhabi now plans to boost capacity to five million barrels per day by 2027.
Al Jaber emphasised that leaving OPEC aligns with broader ambitions to diversify the economy and accelerate investment in emerging sectors.
“This move is part of a broader effort to reshape our economy and industrial base… aligning our resources with national priorities to build a stronger, more resilient economy,” he said.
ADNOC has already pledged to invest $55 billion in new projects over the next two years, with expected oil revenues helping to fund expansion into artificial intelligence and other high-tech industries.
While other nations have exited OPEC in the past, the UAE is by far the largest oil producer to do so, making its departure a pivotal moment for global energy politics.