UAE announced its exit from OPEC+ effective May 1 and has now said it will not pursue further withdrawals. The move signals a shift in the country's approach to multilateral engagement amid regional tensions. The decision follows a surprise departure that has widened a rift with Saudi Arabia, the de-facto leader of OPEC, and sparked speculation that Abu Dhabi might also leave the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Analysts note that the UAE's exit reflects a broader reassessment of alliances triggered by the Iran war and criticism of the GCC's response. The UAE, one of the group's biggest producers, left OPEC+ on May 1. The country is reviewing its participation in multilateral organisations broadly, according to an anonymous UAE official. The review aims to determine which partners can be relied upon and to strengthen the UAE's economic and financial position. Senior UAE official Anwar Gargash told a conference that the GCC's position was the weakest in history, and that he was surprised by the Arab League's weakness but not by the GCC's. He added that strategic autonomy remains the UAE's enduring choice and that the country will scrutinise its regional and international relations to identify reliable partners. By tightening its multilateral ties, the UAE seeks to preserve strategic autonomy while maintaining its status as a regional business hub. The country's focus on economic and financial resilience could position it to navigate future supply-chain disruptions and sustain its oil production discipline.