Why we exited OPEC — UAE

The United Arab Emirates has said its decision to exit the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was driven by national priorities and not targeted at any country.

Speaking on Monday, Sultan Al Jaber, who heads the state oil firm Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, said the move was aimed at strengthening the country’s economy and long-term strategy.

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“The United Arab Emirates’ sovereign decision to reposition itself within the global energy landscape, and to exit OPEC and OPEC+, is not a decision directed against anyone,” he said at a conference in Abu Dhabi.

The decision, which took effect on Friday, followed months of tensions with Saudi Arabia over oil output, foreign policy and regional conflicts. Despite this, Al Jaber maintained that the withdrawal was not aimed at any nation.

He explained that leaving OPEC would allow the UAE to better align its energy policies with its broader economic and industrial ambitions.

“Leaving OPEC serves our national interests and long-term strategic objectives. It gives us greater ability to accelerate investment, expand and create value,” he said.

Al Jaber noted that the move is part of a wider plan to reshape the UAE’s economy by linking energy, technology and industry to build a more resilient future.

He added, “This move was not done in isolation,” he said at the Make It In The Emirates conference on UAE industry.

“It is part of a broader effort to reshape our economy and industrial base through a vision that connects energy, technology, and industry, aligning our resources with national priorities to build a stronger, more resilient economy.”

The UAE, previously OPEC’s fourth-largest producer, has long expressed frustration with production quotas that limited its output to about 3.4 million barrels per day.

The country is now targeting an increase in production capacity to five million barrels per day by 2027. In line with this goal, ADNOC has pledged to invest $55 billion in new projects over the next two years.

Analysts say the expected boost in oil revenue could support the UAE’s investments in sectors such as artificial intelligence and advanced technology.

While other countries have exited OPEC in the past, the UAE is the largest producer to do so, a move that could impact the cartel’s influence over global oil prices and further test relations within the Gulf region.