Sri Lanka, April 28 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its decision to withdraw from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ alliance, marking a significant shift in global energy dynamics amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The exit, effective May 1, 2026, follows a strategic review of the country's production policy and long-term energy priorities, with the UAE signalling a greater focus on flexibility, domestic capacity expansion and alignment with national economic interests.

The move represents a major development for the producer group and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, potentially weakening cohesion within the alliance at a time when the global energy system is already und...