UAE Fuel Price Committee Raises Petrol Prices for May 2026, Keeps Diesel Unchanged

The United Arab Emirates raised petrol prices for May 2026 while keeping diesel unchanged, with the UAE Fuel Price Committee setting new rates that take effect from May 1.

“The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, is about to lose one of its biggest members”

CNN

Under the revised pricing structure, Super 98 petrol was set at 3.66 dirhams per litre, up from 3.39 dirhams in April, while Special 95 petrol was set at 3.55 dirhams per litre, up from 3.28.

CNN

E-Plus 91 petrol was increased to 3.48 dirhams per litre from 3.20, and diesel remained at 4.69 dirhams per litre.

The Daily Times said the increase of nearly 8% for May reflected “rising global crude oil costs as well as ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East,” while keeping diesel steady to provide “some stability for transport and logistics sectors that rely heavily on diesel consumption.”

Economy Middle East similarly said the committee maintained diesel at AED4.69 per liter “to support the continuity of vital sectors, particularly logistics and supply chains.”

The Economic Times described the Fuel Prices Monitoring Committee’s decision as being based on “average global oil prices along with distribution costs,” and said “Prices across all fuel categories have gone up compared to April.”

Multiple reports tied the May adjustment to global crude volatility and disruptions affecting oil shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.

The Daily Times said the latest adjustment “reflect rising global crude oil costs as well as ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East,” and described the decision as following a “sharp rise in international crude prices, driven by supply concerns and heightened uncertainty in energy markets linked to tensions in the Middle East.”

Economy Middle East

Mathrubhumi English said the increase from May 1, 2026 came “as global oil market uncertainty continues to influence domestic rates,” and pointed to the Strait of Hormuz as “a vital artery for global oil shipments” that had been “at the centre of supply concerns.”

Economy Middle East added that the committee’s petrol changes came “amid tensions in the region and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” while also stating that diesel was frozen “to support the continuity of vital sectors.”

The National framed the same backdrop as “elevated amid persisting concerns related to the conflict between the US and Iran,” and said analysts had warned oil prices would remain elevated if the war “drags on.”

Khaleej Times reported that petrol prices increased by “nearly one-third in April,” after a “nearly 60 per cent global rise in oil prices due to the US-Israel-Iran military conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”

In parallel, Economy Middle East reported market moves on Thursday, saying “oil prices climbed above $124 a barrel” and that “Brent crude futures surged by $6.22, or 5.27 percent, to $124.3 a barrel.”

The May fuel revision also arrived as the UAE prepared to exit OPEC and OPEC+ on May 1, 2026, according to several outlets, adding another layer to the market narrative around supply and pricing.

“The UAE Fuel Price Committee announced on Thursday the petrol and diesel prices for May 2026 as global volatility in energy prices persists amid tensions in the region and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz”

Economy Middle East

Mathrubhumi English said the latest price hike came “just days before the UAE formally exits OPEC and OPEC+ on May 1,” calling it “a significant policy shift after more than 60 years of membership.”

It also said the move “signals a transition towards a more independent production strategy,” and quoted industry observers saying the UAE could raise oil production “potentially exceeding previous quota limits by up to 30 per cent.”

Khaleej Times reported that the UAE announced its decision to exit Opec and Opec+ on April 28, effective May 1, and said “After Opec departure, the UAE could eventually increase output by up to 30 per cent above previous quota-constrained levels.”

CNN described the UAE’s departure as a blow to OPEC’s ability to influence the global oil market, saying the UAE is “OPEC’s third biggest crude oil producer after Saudi Arabia and Iraq,” and that “The departure of the United Arab Emirates will deliver a blow to the cartel.”

CNN also said the UAE’s exit would allow it to pump more oil, but warned that “No near-term relief” should be expected at the pump, citing that “Brent crude… is currently trading at multi-week highs of around $117 a barrel.”

The National quoted UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei, saying the decision was “purely a policy move” aimed at preparing the country for the future.

Beyond the headline rates, some outlets quantified how the May increases could translate into higher refuelling costs and operational pressure for transport-linked sectors.

The Times of India said that “Filling a compact car with Super 98 will now cost around Dh186.66,” while “SUV owners could pay over Dh270 for a full tank depending on vehicle size and fuel type.”

Mathrubhumi English

It also reported estimates that “Compact cars will cost roughly Dh13 to Dh20 more to fill compared to April,” and that “Sedan owners will see fuel bills rise by nearly Dh17 on average,” while “SUVs could cost about Dh20 more per tank.”

Mix Vale provided a different framing, saying “Drivers filling 50-liter tanks will spend between 13 and 20 dirhams more per full fill,” and gave an example that “a 60-liter Special 95 tank would cost roughly 197 dirhams to 213 dirhams.”

The same Mix Vale report stated that “These figures apply at all stations nationwide” and said drivers would “already see the new values on the electronic boards starting Thursday.”

The National connected the diesel freeze to cushioning costs, stating that “diesel prices will remain unchanged” and that the fuel cost increase was “in line with global oil prices.”

Economy Middle East emphasized the diesel decision as support for “logistics and supply chains,” and said it aimed at “market balance and price stability.”

Time Out Abu Dhabi similarly said the committee “has frozen the price of diesel for another month,” and stated that the freeze was “to support the continuity of vital sectors, especially the logistics and supply chains sector.”

Looking ahead, the sources describe the UAE’s monthly fuel pricing mechanism as continuing to align domestic rates with global benchmarks, with further changes possible as oil markets move.

“UAE fuel prices rise from May 1, 2026, due to global market volatility”

Mathrubhumi English

The Daily Times said the UAE “reviews fuel prices on a monthly basis, aligning domestic rates with global oil market movements,” and described the latest adjustment as part of a system that “aligning domestic rates with global oil market movements.”

Mix Vale

The Economic Times similarly said the increase was “part of the UAE’s monthly pricing system, where domestic fuel rates are aligned with international crude oil movements,” and described the April revision as setting “the tone for continued pressure on fuel prices, with further fluctuations expected in line with global oil trends and market conditions.”

Time Out Abu Dhabi stated that “Fuel prices in the UAE are announced on the final day of every month and come into force the following day,” and said “This means that the UAE Fuel Price Committee announced new rates on Thursday April 30. Prices have now changed as of Friday May 1.”

What’s On said the petrol price announcement is a monthly ritual, noting that “The petrol prices in the country for the following month are always announced on the last day of the month,” and that if prices are set to rise “people stop by the petrol stations to fill the tank up before the month ends.”

Khaleej Times added that the UAE’s deregulation in 2015 aligned petrol prices with international rates, and said “petrol prices were deregulated in 2015 to align them with the international rate.”

CNN’s analysis suggested that even with the UAE’s OPEC exit, near-term pump relief may not arrive quickly because the Strait of Hormuz remained “largely shut,” and it said the UAE’s exit could still “add to pressure on crude oil prices over time.”

In the same broader market framing, Economy Middle East said the petrol changes were “within the UAE’s approved monthly pricing mechanism,” described as “flexible and transparent,” and said it “keeps pace with international market fluctuations.”