The United Arab Emirates is reassessing its participation in international organisations following its decision to leave OPEC, but is not planning any additional exits, a senior official said Wednesday, seeking to calm speculation over a broader foreign policy shift.
The statement comes a day after Abu Dhabi confirmed it would withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allied OPEC+ grouping, effective May 1, marking a major break with one of the world’s most influential energy alliances.
The UAE official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the government was undertaking a wider review of its engagement in multilateral institutions but stressed that no further departures were currently under consideration.
“The UAE is reviewing its role and contributions across multilateral organisations to ensure alignment with national interests,” the official said, adding that speculation about exits from other bodies was “premature.”
The comments follow growing regional debate over Abu Dhabi’s strategic direction, particularly its relationship with traditional Gulf allies and its positioning within shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
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The withdrawal from OPEC has widened tensions with neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the bloc’s de facto leader, and fuelled questions about coordination within the broader oil-producing alliance at a time of heightened global energy uncertainty.
The move also comes against the backdrop of the war involving Iran, which has intensified security concerns across the Gulf and prompted renewed scrutiny of regional defence and diplomatic cooperation.
Senior Emirati officials have recently suggested that Abu Dhabi is reassessing its alliances in response to what it views as uneven regional responses to the conflict.
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“It is true that, logistically, the GCC countries supported each other, but politically and militarily, their position was the weakest in history,” senior UAE official Anwar Gargash said at a conference earlier this week, referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes six Gulf Arab states, has long been a cornerstone of regional coordination, but its cohesion has been increasingly tested by diverging foreign policy priorities among members.
Gargash also indicated that the UAE was conducting a broader reassessment of its international partnerships to determine which relationships best serve its long-term strategic interests.
“Strategic autonomy remains the UAE’s enduring choice,” he said, signalling a continued emphasis on independent decision-making in foreign and economic policy.
The UAE is one of the Middle East’s most significant financial and logistics hubs and maintains close ties with major global powers, including the United States. It has in recent years pursued a more assertive foreign policy, expanding its influence across parts of Africa and the wider Middle East.
Since normalising relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords, Abu Dhabi has also developed closer diplomatic and economic links with Tel Aviv, which officials say provide an additional channel of engagement with Washington.
The UAE was also among Gulf states affected by regional security tensions during the Iran conflict, prompting renewed emphasis on defence cooperation and strategic partnerships with external allies.
Despite concerns over its recent policy shifts, the official said the UAE remained committed to multilateral engagement where it aligns with national priorities and contributes to economic and geopolitical stability.
“Each membership is being assessed on its effectiveness and relevance,” the official said, without naming specific organisations under review.
Analysts say the decision to leave OPEC, coupled with the broader review of international commitments, reflects Abu Dhabi’s desire to maximise flexibility in a rapidly changing global environment, particularly in energy markets and regional security.
However, officials insist the UAE’s approach is not one of isolation, but of recalibration aimed at strengthening its economic resilience and geopolitical leverage.
For now, the government appears intent on signalling continuity in its broader foreign policy, even as it re-evaluates the structure of its international engagements.
The United Arab Emirates’ decision to withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) marks one of the most significant shifts in Gulf energy diplomacy in decades. The move, announced this week, has raised questions about Abu Dhabi’s long-term strategy in global oil governance and its broader approach to multilateral cooperation.
The UAE has long been one of OPEC’s most influential producers, sitting within the OPEC alongside key regional partners such as Saudi Arabia. The group plays a central role in coordinating oil production levels among major exporters, shaping global crude prices and stabilising energy markets.
However, tensions have gradually emerged in recent years over production quotas, investment ambitions, and long-term energy strategies. The UAE has repeatedly signalled that it wants greater flexibility to expand its production capacity, diversify its energy revenues, and pursue more independent economic policies.
Those tensions have been particularly visible in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s dominant player, as both countries compete for investment, global influence, and leadership within the Gulf energy landscape.
The UAE’s broader foreign policy recalibration comes at a time of heightened regional instability, particularly following the war involving Iran. The conflict has intensified security concerns across the Gulf and placed pressure on regional institutions to demonstrate stronger coordination.
Within this context, Abu Dhabi has begun reassessing its participation in multiple international organisations, although officials say this does not signal a broader retreat from global engagement.
The UAE remains a central member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which brings together six Gulf Arab states, and continues to maintain strong ties with the United States and other global partners. It has also strengthened its diplomatic and economic relationship with Israel following the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Officials describe the current approach as a shift toward “strategic autonomy” — a policy aimed at maximising national flexibility while maintaining selective cooperation in areas that serve long-term economic and security interests.
The reassessment also reflects Abu Dhabi’s ambition to position itself as a global financial and logistics hub, reducing reliance on traditional energy structures and expanding its influence across emerging markets in Africa and Asia.
Despite speculation about further withdrawals from regional organisations, UAE officials have stressed that no additional exits are planned for now. Instead, they say each multilateral membership is being reviewed individually based on its strategic value.
In essence, the OPEC exit is less about isolation and more about repositioning — signalling a desire by the UAE to move from collective oil decision-making toward a more diversified and independently managed economic future.
