Gulf Leaders Push for Hormuz Reopening as UAE Leaves OPEC

TL;DR: Gulf leaders in Jeddah called for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen permanently and announced the UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC, signaling a shift in regional oil policy.

The first in‑person Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit since the U.S.–Israel war on Iran convened in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted the delegations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The meeting marked a unified Gulf stance on the conflict, according to Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Sheikh Tamim said the summit showed a collective resolve to coordinate diplomatic efforts and preserve regional stability. He emphasized that coordinated action is essential to achieve a diplomatic solution to the war that began two months ago.

A central demand from the six energy‑rich GCC states was the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway carries roughly 20 % of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments in peacetime. Leaders agreed that any lasting settlement must include a permanent arrangement to keep the strait open.

During the same session, the United Arab Emirates announced it will withdraw from OPEC and the OPEC+ alliance. The UAE framed the move as a prioritization of national interests, a decision that weakens the oil cartel’s cohesion at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.

The UAE’s exit follows a period of Iranian attacks on GCC energy infrastructure, which prompted a defensive posture across the Gulf. Although hostilities have eased after a ceasefire on April 8, the region remains wary of renewed conflict.

What the developments mean for the global market is twofold. First, a guaranteed reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would restore a critical chokepoint for oil and LNG flows, easing supply‑chain pressures that have spiked since the war began. Second, the UAE’s departure from OPEC could lead to more independent production decisions among Gulf exporters, potentially increasing price volatility.

Watch for diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran that could lock in a permanent Hormuz arrangement, and monitor how the UAE’s new oil policy influences OPEC’s output strategy in the coming months.