Why Did the UAE Really Leave OPEC? A Strategic and Economic Shift Explained
An opinion piece published in the Financial Times by UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba, titled “Why the UAE really left Opec” (06/05/2026), sheds light on the strategic, economic, and geopolitical reasoning behind the UAE’s decision to step away from OPEC after nearly 60 years of membership. The article argues that the move goes far beyond production quotas or temporary market disruptions. Instead, it reflects deeper structural changes in global energy markets and broader shifts in the world economy. According to the piece, the UAE is no longer a country primarily dependent on oil, as it was at the time of joining OPEC. Today, less than a quarter of its GDP is linked to the energy sector, while fast-growing industries such as aviation, logistics, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, tourism, and life sciences are increasingly driving the economy. It also highlights the UAE’s expanding global economic footprint, noting dozens of Comprehensive Economic Partnership A...
