UAE Exit Weakens OPEC Control

The United Arab Emirates announced it will leave OPEC and the OPEC+ partnership effective May 1, citing supply disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz. As a long‑standing Gulf member and major producer, the UAE’s departure reduces the group's core membership and may limit its ability to coordinate production and manage prices. — If major Gulf producers abandon OPEC coordination in response to security risks, global oil markets could see greater volatility, new bilateral deals, and a geopolitical scramble over export routes and buyers.