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UAE’s Exit From OPEC Reshapes Oil Power Balance as Cartel Loses Key Spare Capacity

The UAE says the move secures control of production to fund its economic shift.

Overview

  • The UAE has left OPEC and the broader OPEC+ group, and ADNOC chief Sultan Al Jaber said the decision serves sovereign interests and is not directed at other states.
  • The departure removes a large producer with meaningful spare capacity, which analysts say weakens OPEC’s ability to coordinate supply and enforce discipline.
  • Experts writing in War on the Rocks say OPEC is likely to endure but with reduced clout, leaving Saudi Arabia with a tougher task to manage quotas and support prices.
  • A Moscow-based economist told TASS the change elevates flexible OPEC+ coordination and bilateral deals, which Russia views as important for protecting its oil exports.
  • Near-term supply gains from the UAE appear constrained by war disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, though a later output increase could pressure prices and add volatility.