On May 1, 2026, the United Arab Emirates’ exit from OPEC took effect. The exit is significant because OPEC produces approximately 35–40% of the world’s oil supply. As a cartel, it dictates production levels and therefore influences prices. The UAE was the third-largest producer in OPEC, behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with Abu Dhabi’s membership dating to 1967. By exiting, the UAE breaks from a cartel that has kept oil prices elevated and stands to unlock roughly one million extra barrels per day. It also controls the Fujairah pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz entirely, giving it an export route independent of the waterway Iran has used as a chokepoint. The UAE had been the target of Iranian missile and drone attacks for weeks. The UAE deepened ties with the United States and Israel through the 2020 Abraham Accords and views those relationships as its primary lever of regional influence. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/05/uae-leaving-opec-win-u-s-control-global/ 
UAE Leaving OPEC: