The United Arab Emirates is reassessing its role and contributions across multilateral organisations but is not considering any further withdrawals at this time, a UAE official told Reuters on Wednesday, a day after Abu Dhabi announced its withdrawal from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The Emirati official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the country was broadly reviewing the utility of its membership in multilateral organisations. The statement came amid intense speculation that Abu Dhabi could exit other regional bodies, including the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), following its surprise decision to leave and OPEC+ effective May 1.OPEC
The UAE’s exit, one of the group’s biggest producers, widens a rift with its neighbour, Saudi Arabia, which is effectively OPEC’s leader.