The UAE has announced its departure from the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), Reuters reported, citing a statement from the intergovernmental alliance released on Sunday. OAPEC, founded in 1968 to strengthen cooperation among Arab oil exporters, does not set production policies for its members.

The move follows the UAE’s surprise decision on April 28th, 2026, to withdraw from both OPEC and the OPEC+ producer group to prioritize boosting its own oil output.

This marks a significant shift in the UAE’s energy policy, as the country had long been a key participant in OPEC+ production agreements. Its withdrawal underscores a growing focus on national production goals while leaving responsibility for coordinated market stability measures to the remaining members.