How 'Little Sparta' UAE shocked the Gulf by going its own way on oil

DOHA, Qatar — Among senior U.S. officials, the wealthy Persian Gulf nation of the United Arab Emirates is known by an affectionate nickname: Little Sparta

DOHA, Qatar — Among senior U.S. officials, the wealthy Persian Gulf nation of the United Arab Emirates is known by an affectionate nickname: Little Sparta.

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The moniker, often attributed to former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, reflects the American admiration for the UAE’s investment in its military and its willingness to act decisively, compared to its slower-moving Gulf neighbors.

This week, “Little Sparta” lived up to its reputation for pivoting fast and going it alone, as it announced that on May 1 it will leave OPEC, the league of oil-exporting states that since 1960 has played a major role in setting global oil prices.