On May 1, 2026, when the United Arab Emirates officially left the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), it did not simply end an era; rather, it ripped out large sections of the book that has defined how the international energy market operates for nearly sixty years. As one of the original twelve founding members of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) since 1967, only a year into its existence as a federated nation, the UAE has served as a foundation stone for the most influential petroleum cartel globally through boom times and busts, through periods of high-priced crude oil and low, during periods of major geopolitical turmoil, and at least twice through pandemic-induced disruptions. Through all these crises and fluctuations, Abu Dhabi has continued to be a faithful member of the cartel, though increasingly restive.
