The shock decision by the United Arab Emirates to quit OPEC blindsided its partners of six decades. Now the cartel will have to fight to stay relevant in a fast-shifting global oil market.

The United Arab Emirates will leave a decades-old cartel of the world’s top oil exporters, delivering a major blow to the group that will ripple through the global oil market at a time of unprecedented turmoil caused by the Iran war.

In announcing its country’s departure, the UAE ’s energy ministry thanked the other members of OPEC for “five decades of co-operation”. But his emollient talk belies the fact that tensions in OPEC have been brewing for years.

The United Arab Emirates will leave OPEC next month, in a significant blow to the group that raises questions about its future at a time when the industry is grappling with the massive supply disruption caused by the Iran war.

The Gulf state said the move would help it meet changing demand but analysts see it as a heavy blow to the organization.

Robin Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy explains the reasons behind the UAE’S unexpected announcement that it is leaving OPEC.

The abrupt decision by the UAE—which has been a member of OPEC for six decades—reflects an intensified rivalry with Saudi Arabia and current pressures from the Iran war on Gul

The United Arab Emirates says quitting the Opec and Opec+ groups of major oil producing nations will provide more flexibility. The move is being seen as a blow to the groups' de facto leader Saudi Arabia.