Explainer
Why the UAE and Saudi Arabia Have Drifted Apart
Officials in the United Arab Emirates have framed their decision to quit the OPEC group of oil producing nations as an opportunity to respond more nimbly to the energy crisis caused by the Iran war.
However, the move also follows a steady escalation of tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s dominant member. While the Gulf neighbors are in many ways natural allies, they also have a history of disagreements and are locked in an increasingly overt competition for regional influence.