The United Arab Emirates has formally exited the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, according to a statement issued by the Kuwait-based body.

The move comes days after Abu Dhabi announced on April 28 that it would also step away from the wider OPEC and OPEC+ framework, signaling a shift in strategy toward expanding its own crude output without collective production limits.

OAPEC, founded in 1968, was designed to strengthen coordination among Arab oil-producing nations. The UAE’s departure marks a significant change in its regional energy alignment as it prioritizes domestic production growth over multilateral quota arrangements.