What to Know About UAE Leaving OPEC

Abu Dhabi’s exit could weaken OPEC, free the UAE to pump more crude, and reshape oil markets amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, analysts say.

A man stands along a beach as tanker ships are seen in the waters of the Gulf of Oman off the coast of the eastern UAE emirate of Fujairah on June 15, 2019. Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images

The United Arab Emirates’ decision to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) next month marks one of the biggest ruptures inside the oil cartel in years.

For decades, OPEC has relied on its heavyweight producers to share oil quotas, manage supply, and influence prices.