The long-term effects of the exit will become evident when the UAE, freed from quota constraints, ramps up exports, and energy supplies start flowing unrestricted through the Strait of Hormuz. 2 min read Apr 30, 2026 06:22 AM IST First published on: Apr 30, 2026 at 06:04 AM IST The United Arab Emirates’ exit from OPEC — a grouping of oil-exporting countries that Abu Dhabi joined in 1967 — will weaken the organisation’s market power. It also brings to the fore the tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia that have been simmering for years. Abu Dhabi’s decision seems driven by several considerations. One, the UAE has consistently argued that the OPEC quotas unfairly constrain its output. Second, in Sudan and Yemen, the Saudis and Emiratis have backed competing factions and pursued divergent strategies. Third, the war in Iran appears to have deepened the divide between the two.…