Trump Applauds UAE’s OPEC Exit

In this paper, we discuss:

• The UAE’s exit from OPEC as a major shift in Gulf geopolitics and regional power dynamics;
• Abu Dhabi’s growing frustration with OPEC production limits and Saudi dominance within the cartel;
• The strengthening of UAE alignment with the United States and its increasingly autonomous foreign policy;
• The implications for global energy markets, including higher uncertainty and potential fragmentation within OPEC;
• The broader transition toward a more transactional Gulf order, with weakening traditional Arab multilateral frameworks.

Download PDF: OPEC – May 2026