Cairo, 28 April 2026 (dpa/MIA) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) effective May 1, the state news agency WAM said on Tuesday.

The decision follows what officials described as a “comprehensive evaluation,” including consideration of ongoing “disruptions" in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement comes a day before a scheduled OPEC meeting in Vienna.

"This decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile, including accelerated investment in domestic energy production, and reinforces its commitment to a responsible, reliable, and forward-looking role in global energy markets," the UAE said in the statement carried by WAM.

The move comes two months after the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran, during which the UAE faced major drone and missile attacks from Tehran, including on energy infrastructure. 

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sharply curtailed the country’s ability to export oil.

Oil revenues have underpinned the UAE’s economic growth and geopolitical influence since the 1960s.

While disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are affecting shipments, the UAE statement noted that medium- and long-term trends still point to rising global energy demand.

MIA file photo