Al Jaber says UAE energy strategy supports industrial growth, AI development and long-term economic resilience.
Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s decision to exit OPEC and OPEC+ was not a standalone energy move, but part of a broader strategy to reshape the country’s industrial base, strengthen economic resilience, and give policymakers greater flexibility in global energy markets, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said at the opening of the Make it in the Emirates Forum.
“The United Arab Emirates’ sovereign decision to reposition itself within the global energy landscape, and to exit OPEC and OPEC+, is not directed against anyone,” said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, and Executive Chairman of XRG.
“It is a carefully considered strategic decision that reflects our confidence in our capabilities, our ambition for a more diversified economy, and a better future,” he stated.
The remarks frame the UAE’s energy decision as part of a broader national strategy linking industrial output, artificial intelligence, domestic investment, and supply chain security at a time when regional disruptions have highlighted the risks of over-reliance on external systems.
“This move was not taken in isolation,” said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. “It is part of a broader effort to reshape our economy and industrial base through a vision that connects energy, technology and industry, aligning our resources with national priorities to build a stronger, more resilient economy.”
Energy flexibility, market stability
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber stressed that the UAE will continue to be a reliable player in global energy markets, even as it seeks greater flexibility to expand investment and align resources with national priorities.
“The United Arab Emirates will remain a trusted and responsible partner in global energy markets,” he said, adding that the country will continue “supporting the stability of global markets from a position of greater flexibility.”
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the move forms part of a longer-term economic transition, where resource strength is measured by how effectively it is converted into national value.
“Real strength is not measured by the abundance of resources, but by how they are harnessed to create value and serve the nation,” said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
Hormuz warning
He also linked industrial sovereignty to recent strain on global trade routes, warning that the closure of a critical artery such as the Strait of Hormuz carries consequences far beyond the Gulf.
“When a vital artery such as the Strait of Hormuz is closed, it does not only affect one region, it affects the entire global economy,” he said.
He pointed to disrupted supplies, higher costs, rising global inflation, and broken production chains, noting that the heaviest pressure is borne by more vulnerable economies.
“Our position on this issue remains firm and clear,” said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. “The Strait of Hormuz must never be held hostage or used as a tool of economic coercion and extortion.”
He added that freedom of navigation is “non-negotiable” and that the legal status of the Strait as an international waterway “must not be altered.”
Economic security, in Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber’s framing, cannot be secured during a crisis and cannot rely entirely on imported capacity.
“Economic security cannot be imported, it must be built and protected,” said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
Industry takes centre stage
The UAE’s industrial strategy has already lifted the sector’s national contribution to Dh200 billion, reflecting 70% growth, while industrial exports reached Dh262 billion, including Dh92 billion in advanced industrial exports, he said.
“These figures are not merely growth,” he added. “They are proof that our industrial economic model works, produces, and continues to accelerate.”
A key pillar of this model is the National In-Country Value Programme, which aims to redirect spending toward domestic factories, local talent and national supply chains.
The value of industrial procurement opportunities will now rise from Dh168 billion to Dh180 billion over the next 10 years, alongside the localisation of more than 5,000 products across strategic sectors tied to economic, food and healthcare security.
The move is designed to keep critical sectors functioning during external shocks, while giving businesses more predictable long-term demand from major national buyers.
AI moves into the factory floor
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the next phase of industrial growth will be driven by artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and deeper integration between energy and technology.
“Artificial intelligence will no longer be just a tool in our factories,” he said. “It will become an industrial brain and a partner in decision-making, redefining efficiency, productivity, and the decision-making process.”
The UAE aims to position itself as a global platform where investors can build, scale and export, supported by infrastructure, logistics, financial services, regulation and governance.
“The economies of the future will be built on three foundations,” said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. “Energy that powers, technology that thinks, and industry that produces.”
Domestic investment push
Ahead of the forum, the UAE also hosted the Make it with ADNOC forum, where projects planned over the next two years, with a combined value exceeding Dh200 billion, were showcased.
Al Jaber also announced the Local+ initiative, which connects engineering, procurement, construction and services contractors with 70 qualified Emirati manufacturers. The initiative requires contractors to prioritise UAE-made products across ADNOC projects and supply chains.
He called on the private industrial sector, chambers of commerce, and sovereign wealth funds to treat domestic investment as a strategic priority.
“Investing at home, or Direct Domestic Investment, is no longer an option, it is a priority,” said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. “Because it is an investment in our stability, our economic sovereignty, and the future of generations to come.”
