Leading OPEC+ nations have agreed to a minor, symbolic increase in their production quotas for June, thereby demonstrating that the group is operating as usual following the UAE’s unexpected withdrawal, Bloomberg reports.
Seven countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia will add 188,000 barrels per day next month under an agreement reached during a video conference on Sunday, OPEC said in a statement.
Delegates had expected a small increase even before the UAE’s withdrawal. The actual restoration of these volumes will depend on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of production that had been suspended. This occurred following the UAE’s withdrawal from the largest alliance of oil-producing nations.
The country’s flagship oil company, Adnoc, announced that it plans to accelerate its growth plan by allocating 200 billion dirhams ($55 billion) to projects covering operations in both production and refining and marketing.
The UAE’s withdrawal, which came as a surprise to other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners, will further undermine the group’s ability to influence oil prices, which were already weakening due to years of increased production by competitors, particularly U.S. shale companies.
The UAE is not mentioned in the new OPEC+ report.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which produces approximately 3–3.5 million barrels of oil per day, has announced its withdrawal from OPEC and the OPEC+ agreement effective May 1, according to a statement.
“This decision was made following a comprehensive review of the UAE’s production policy, as well as our current and future capacities, and is based on our national interests and our commitment to effectively helping meet the market’s immediate needs,” the UAE stated.
“Although short-term volatility, including disruptions in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, continues to affect supply dynamics, underlying trends point to sustained growth in global energy demand in the medium and long term,” the government emphasized.
The UAE joined OPEC in 1967 through the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The UAE explains its decision to leave the organization of exporting countries as an evolution of its approach, “increasing flexibility in responding to market changes while continuing to contribute to stability.”
The UAE notes that it is one of the world’s most price-competitive oil producers with a low carbon footprint. “After leaving the organization, the UAE will continue to act responsibly, gradually, and prudently, increasing production in line with demand and market conditions,” the statement said.
“With a large and competitive resource base, the UAE will continue to collaborate with partners in resource development, supporting economic growth and diversification. This decision does not alter the UAE’s commitment to global market stability or our approach based on cooperation with producers and consumers. On the contrary, it enhances the UAE’s ability to respond to changing market needs,“ the UAE noted.
The country’s government stated that during its time in OPEC, the UAE ”has made significant contributions and even greater sacrifices for the benefit of all.”
“But now is the time to focus our efforts on what our national interests and our commitments to investors, customers, partners, and global energy markets dictate,” the UAE emphasized.
The UAE will continue to invest across the entire value chain, including oil, gas, renewable energy, and low-carbon solutions to support the sustainable and long-term transformation of the energy system.
The results of a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center show that Ukrainians’ attitude toward the United Arab Emirates remains stable and is characterized by a combination of moderate positivity and a significant proportion of neutral assessments. Overall, 38.7% of respondents describe their attitude as positive, which is virtually unchanged from August 2025 (38.3%). At the same time, negative attitudes have decreased slightly—from 6.3% to 6.1%.
The distribution of responses indicates a predominance of neutral perceptions: 52.4% of respondents do not have a clearly formed opinion regarding the UAE. The positive segment consists of 10.7% who selected “completely positive” and 28.0% who selected “mostly positive.” This pattern indicates a generally favorable backdrop, though without a high level of emotional engagement.
Negative assessments remain relatively low: 4.2% of respondents chose “mostly negative,” and 1.9% chose “completely negative.” The share of those who could not decide is 2.8%. This confirms that the UAE does not evoke significant negative perceptions in Ukrainian society, yet it also does not form a clearly positive image.
The change between August 2025 and March 2026 is minimal. A slight increase in positive assessments is accompanied by an equally slight decrease in negative ones, indicating a stabilization of attitudes. At the same time, a key characteristic remains the high proportion of neutral responses, which exceeds half of all respondents.
In a broader context, this means that Ukrainians perceive the UAE as an economically interesting country, but one that is not close enough or well understood. The absence of sharp fluctuations in the indicators confirms that the established image is stable but not deeply integrated into the public consciousness.
“In the case of countries such as the United Arab Emirates, we see a typical example of a predominantly neutral perception. This means that Ukrainians’ level of knowledge and experience of interaction with this country remains limited, even despite economic contacts. At the same time, this creates potential for the positive image to grow, provided there is a more active presence in Ukraine’s information and economic spheres,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
Thus, the survey results indicate that Ukrainians’ attitudes toward the UAE are stable and moderately positive, though neutrality remains the dominant feature. This opens opportunities for further shaping the country’s image through economic cooperation, investment, and public diplomacy.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, the United Arab Emirates ranks 38th in total trade volume with Ukraine, amounting to $456.7 million. At the same time, Ukraine has a trade surplus with the UAE of $214.1 million, as exports of Ukrainian goods exceed imports.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UAE, UKRAINE, URAKIN
The UAE insists that any political settlement of the conflict with Iran must include not only a ceasefire but also guarantees against new attacks, as well as a mechanism for reparations for strikes on civilian infrastructure and the populations of the Gulf states. This was stated by Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE president.
Gargash’s statement generally aligns with the broader position of the Arab Gulf states, previously articulated at the UN Human Rights Council. According to Reuters, the region’s countries accused Iran of striking energy and civilian infrastructure and supported a resolution condemning these attacks, demanding reparations, and mandating UN monitoring of the situation.
The Gulf states are also insisting that any agreement with Iran not be limited to a formal cessation of hostilities, but include a long-term reduction of its missile and drone capabilities, as well as the protection of the region’s energy and transportation infrastructure.
France’s TotalEnergies has announced that it has halted or is in the process of halting production in Qatar, Iraq, and offshore assets in the UAE. According to the company’s estimates, these assets account for about 15% of its total production. This is stated in TotalEnergies’ statement on its investor page.
The company clarified that onshore production in the UAE is not affected by the conflict. Its volume is about 210,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in TotalEnergies’ share. At the same time, 15% of the volume in the Middle East accounts for about 10% of the upstream segment’s cash flow, as local assets are subject to higher taxes and generate less cash flow per barrel than the group’s portfolio average.
The company also said that rising oil prices could compensate for the decline in volumes. According to TotalEnergies’ estimates, an $8 per barrel increase in the price of Brent is enough to offset the expected 2026 cash flow from assets in Iraq, Qatar, and offshore UAE at a price of $60 per barrel. At the same time, operations at the SATORP oil refinery in Saudi Arabia continue as usual and supply the kingdom’s domestic market.
The UAE has simplified the process of obtaining a “golden visa” for real estate investors: the key criterion remains the cost of the property from 2 million dirhams, while in Dubai it is possible to apply on the basis of a mortgage purchase if there is a letter from the bank and confirmation of payments, according to the description of the Dubai Land Department (DLD) service for applying for a 10-year investor residence visa.
According to the DLD’s terms and conditions, the applicant must own a property (or several properties) with a total value of at least AED 2 million, and the property may be mortgaged – a letter from the bank stating that there are no objections is required, as well as an indication of the amount paid and the outstanding balance.
The changes came into effect on February 20, 2026, and expand the pool of applicants to include buyers using mortgages and installment plans, as well as buyers of off-plan properties.
