Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has sparked a major social media buzz across the Arab world, particularly in Saudi Arabia, after dismissing the UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC as a non-event during an exclusive media briefing.
“The UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ is no event, because the pillar of Arab nations within OPEC is our brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia… the speech is over and the book is closed,” Tebboune told dzwatch.
The statement instantly trended on X, with prominent Saudi news pages including Akhbar Al-Saudia and Ajel Al-Saudia rushing to share the video clip. Energy consultant Naif Al-Dandani, a member of the Advisory Council for Petroleum Engineering at King Saud University, also amplified the remarks, underlining Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in OPEC.
Multiple Saudi journalists, activists, and media pages praised Tebboune’s stance, with one page writing: “The Algerian President delivers a slap to the UAE over its OPEC exit.”
