The United Arab Emirates' decision to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ alliance on May 1, 2026, "reflects a policy-driven evolution aligned with long-term market fundamentals," Suhail al-Mazrouei, the Emirati energy minister, said on X.

"The time has come to focus our efforts on what our national interest dictates and our commitment to our investors, customers, partners and global energy markets," he wrote.

According to the Emirati WAM news agency, disruptions in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz influenced the decision.

As part of the wider US-Israel war in Iran , Tehran had attacked the United Arab Emirates with thousands of drones and missiles, killing civilians, damaging infrastructure and oil-producing facilities, while also targeting US bases .

However, Abu Dhabi's calls for a joint military response by the Gulf states to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a key waterway for the transport of one-fifth of global oil supplies, including much of the…