The United Arab Emirates has formally withdrawn from the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (Oapec), completing a dual exit from the two major Arab oil alliances following its earlier departure from Opec and the Opec+ production alliance.
Oapec confirmed the withdrawal in a statement issued Sunday, saying it had received formal notification from UAE Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, addressed to Libya’s Oil and Gas Minister Dr Khalifa Rajab Abdul Sadiq, declaring the country’s exit effective May 1, 2026.
Unlike Opec, Oapec — established in 1968 — does not govern production levels among its members but serves as a platform for energy-sector cooperation among Arab oil-exporting states. The secretariat acknowledged the UAE’s contributions during its membership and said it would continue advancing collaboration among remaining member states through its existing programmes.
The Oapec withdrawal comes days after the UAE’s April 28 announcement that it was leaving Opec and Opec+, a move Mazrouei said was driven entirely by domestic energy policy considerations. He told attendees at the “Make It In The Emirates” conference that the decision was made unilaterally and without prior consultation with any other country.
“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.
Freed from Opec’s quota framework, the UAE — one of the group’s largest producers — would have greater latitude to scale up output, particularly once Gulf export routes fully resume. Mazrouei said the departure was handled without friction: “OPEC has been relatively calm about the decision,” he said, adding that Abu Dhabi intends to maintain working relationships with both organisations’ members going forward.
Senior officials and regional analysts have characterised the move as a sovereignty-driven recalibration of the country’s long-term production strategy rather than a rupture with the broader Arab energy community.
