Petrol Price in UAE August 2026: Special 95, Super 98, E-Plus 91 & Diesel Rates
All four grades up by exactly AED 0.20 from 1 August — the official rates, what a full tank now costs, and six months of price history in one table
Published 31 July 2026 · Rates effective from 1 August 2026
The UAE Fuel Price Committee has raised petrol and diesel prices for August 2026, and it has done something unusual: every grade went up by exactly the same amount — 20 fils a litre.
Special 95 moves to AED 3.49, Super 98 to AED 3.60, E-Plus 91 to AED 3.41 and diesel to AED 3.80, all effective from Saturday 1 August. Whatever you drive and whichever grade you use, the maths is the same: every litre costs 20 fils more than it did in July.
UAE Petrol Prices for August 2026
| Fuel grade | August 2026 | July 2026 | Change | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super 98 | AED 3.60 | AED 3.40 | +AED 0.20 | +5.88% |
| Special 95 | AED 3.49 | AED 3.29 | +AED 0.20 | +6.08% |
| E-Plus 91 | AED 3.41 | AED 3.21 | +AED 0.20 | +6.23% |
| Diesel | AED 3.80 | AED 3.60 | +AED 0.20 | +5.56% |
The rates were approved by the Fuel Price Committee and published through the Emirates News Agency on the morning of 31 July, following the monthly review mechanism the UAE has used since fuel pricing was deregulated in 2015. They apply nationwide from 1 August, at every ADNOC, ENOC and EPPCO station, with no variation between emirates.
What This Costs You
A 20-fils rise sounds trivial until it meets a fuel tank. Here is the same increase expressed in the way you actually experience it.
Cost of a full tank in August
| Tank size | E-Plus 91 | Special 95 | Super 98 | Diesel | vs July |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 litres (small hatchback) | AED 136.40 | AED 139.60 | AED 144.00 | AED 152.00 | +AED 8.00 |
| 50 litres (typical sedan) | AED 170.50 | AED 174.50 | AED 180.00 | AED 190.00 | +AED 10.00 |
| 60 litres (crossover) | AED 204.60 | AED 209.40 | AED 216.00 | AED 228.00 | +AED 12.00 |
| 80 litres (large SUV) | AED 272.80 | AED 279.20 | AED 288.00 | AED 304.00 | +AED 16.00 |
| 120 litres (pickup, full-size SUV) | AED 409.20 | AED 418.80 | AED 432.00 | AED 456.00 | +AED 24.00 |
What it means for a monthly commute
Take a fairly ordinary case: 1,500 km a month in a sedan returning about 13 km/L on Special 95. That is roughly 115 litres.
- July: around AED 380
- August: around AED 403
- Difference: about AED 23 a month, or AED 276 over a year if rates held
A large SUV at 7 km/L over the same distance uses about 214 litres, so the same 20-fils rise costs closer to AED 43 a month. To work out your own figure rather than a representative one, our fuel cost calculator has the August rates built in — pick your car model and enter your distance.
Six Months of UAE Fuel Prices
One month's figure tells you very little on its own. Here is where August sits against the past six months, with every rate as announced by the Fuel Price Committee.
| Month (2026) | E-Plus 91 | Special 95 | Super 98 | Diesel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | AED 2.40 | AED 2.48 | AED 2.59 | AED 2.72 |
| April | AED 3.20 | AED 3.28 | AED 3.39 | AED 4.69 |
| May | AED 3.48 | AED 3.55 | AED 3.66 | AED 4.69 |
| June | AED 3.76 | AED 3.83 | AED 3.95 | AED 4.33 |
| July | AED 3.21 | AED 3.29 | AED 3.40 | AED 3.60 |
| August | AED 3.41 | AED 3.49 | AED 3.60 | AED 3.80 |
Reading the table
The shape of 2026 is unusual, and it is worth understanding before drawing conclusions from any single month.
The year opened cheap. Special 95 was AED 2.42 a litre in Dubai in January, having fallen for two consecutive months — and it fell again in February to AED 2.33, the lowest point of the year. Anyone comparing today's pump price to what they remember from the start of the year is comparing against that trough. For the picture just before that, how rates stood in December 2025 shows where the decline began.
Then came the spike. Following the outbreak of conflict in the region in late February and the disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, global crude climbed sharply. April brought the single largest jump of the year — diesel rose from AED 2.72 to AED 4.69 in one month, a 72% increase. Petrol grades climbed through April, May and June, peaking in June with Super 98 at AED 3.95.
July corrected hard. Rates fell across the board, with diesel down 73 fils and petrol down as much as 55 fils — the first reduction after four months of rises.
August gives back about a third of that. The 20-fils rise recovers part of July's fall but leaves every grade below the June peak.
Where August actually sits
Two comparisons, both true, and you need both to read the situation honestly:
- Against February's low, prices are roughly 50% higher across every grade. Special 95 has gone from AED 2.33 to AED 3.49 — an increase of AED 1.16 a litre.
- Against the peak, prices remain meaningfully lower. Special 95 sits AED 0.34 below its June high, and diesel is AED 0.89 below the AED 4.69 it reached in April and May.
So August is a rise, but not a return to the worst of the year. It is closer to a partial rebound after an unusually sharp correction.
The Diesel Story Nobody Is Telling
Diesel has been the most volatile grade of 2026, and the interesting development this month is not the 20-fils rise — it is how far the gap to petrol has closed.
| Month | Diesel | Special 95 | Diesel premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | AED 4.69 | AED 3.28 | +AED 1.41 |
| May | AED 4.69 | AED 3.55 | +AED 1.14 |
| June | AED 4.33 | AED 3.83 | +AED 0.50 |
| July | AED 3.60 | AED 3.29 | +AED 0.31 |
| August | AED 3.80 | AED 3.49 | +AED 0.31 |
In April, diesel cost AED 1.41 more per litre than Special 95. Today the gap is 31 fils and holding. For a fleet operator running ten diesel vehicles, that narrowing is worth considerably more than the headline increase — the same fleet was absorbing a punishing premium three months ago.
Diesel remains the most expensive grade at the pump, as it has been all year. The efficiency advantage of a diesel engine, typically 15–30% better than an equivalent petrol unit, still offsets the higher per-litre cost for high-mileage drivers, but the margin is thinner than it was when diesel routinely sat near or below petrol.
Should You Fill Up Before Prices Change?
The honest answer is: only if you were going to anyway.
Filling a 50-litre tank tonight rather than tomorrow saves AED 10. That is a real saving, and if you are passing a station or the gauge is already low, there is no reason not to take it.
What it does not justify is a special trip. Driving 15 minutes out of your way to a petrol station burns fuel, costs time, and in the queues that form on the last evening of the month you can easily spend twenty minutes waiting to save the price of a coffee. If your tank is half full, this is not worth reorganising your evening for.
The larger point is that month-to-month timing is a small lever. Across a year, the difference between filling on the 31st and the 1st averages out to very little. Consistent driving habits, correct tyre pressure and a serviced engine will save considerably more than watching the calendar.
How UAE Fuel Prices Are Set
The UAE deregulated fuel pricing in 2015, moving from fixed subsidised rates to a monthly mechanism linked to international markets. The system has been in place for a decade.
- The UAE Fuel Price Committee, operating under the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, reviews rates at the end of each month
- Pricing benchmarks against international market averages for refined products, with a margin added to cover retailers' transport and operating costs
- New rates are announced on the last day of the month and take effect at midnight on the 1st
- Announcements are published through WAM, the Emirates News Agency, and picked up the same day by Gulf News, Khaleej Times and other outlets
- Prices are identical nationwide — the same at every ADNOC, ENOC and EPPCO station in all seven emirates, with no station-level competition on price
- Rates are fixed for the whole month and do not move day to day
This is why there is no point shopping around for cheaper fuel in the UAE, and why a price you find quoted online is either current for the month or entirely wrong — there is no middle ground.
Which Grade Should You Use?
The gaps between grades are narrow this month, which makes the answer simpler than usual.
| Grade | August price | Gap to Special 95 | Suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-Plus 91 | AED 3.41 | −AED 0.08 | Older engines and fleet vehicles where the manual permits 91 octane |
| Special 95 | AED 3.49 | — | The default for most sedans, crossovers and SUVs in the UAE |
| Super 98 | AED 3.60 | +AED 0.11 | Turbocharged, performance and many European engines |
Dropping from Special 95 to E-Plus 91 saves 8 fils a litre — about AED 4 on a 50-litre fill. That is a small enough number that it should never override what your manual specifies. An engine designed for 95 octane running on 91 can knock, run less efficiently, and in the worst case sustain damage. A few dirhams saved at the pump is a poor trade against a fuel system repair.
The reverse also holds: putting Super 98 into a car specified for 95 buys you nothing. Higher octane resists pre-ignition, it does not contain more energy. Unless the manufacturer calls for it, you are paying 11 fils a litre for no return.
If you are uncertain, the answer is in the owner's manual or on the inside of the fuel filler flap. When those disagree with advice from a friend, trust the manual.
When Are September 2026 Prices Announced?
The Fuel Price Committee will announce September rates on Monday 31 August 2026, effective from Tuesday 1 September. As always, the announcement comes through WAM during the day and is reported the same evening.
Whether they rise or fall depends on where international benchmarks sit through August. Given how sharply 2026 has moved in both directions, predictions are worth very little — April swung diesel up 72% in a single month, and July pulled petrol down 14%. Anyone forecasting September with confidence is guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the petrol price in UAE for August 2026?
From 1 August 2026, Special 95 costs AED 3.49 per litre, Super 98 costs AED 3.60, E-Plus 91 costs AED 3.41 and diesel costs AED 3.80. All four grades increased by exactly 20 fils compared with July. The rates were approved by the UAE Fuel Price Committee and announced on 31 July 2026.
How much did petrol prices go up in August 2026?
Every grade rose by AED 0.20 per litre. In percentage terms that is 6.08% for Special 95, 5.88% for Super 98, 6.23% for E-Plus 91 and 5.56% for diesel. Because the increase is identical across grades, a full tank costs AED 8 more on a 40-litre car and AED 24 more on a 120-litre pickup, regardless of which fuel you use.
Why did UAE petrol prices increase in August 2026?
The Fuel Price Committee described the change as a limited adjustment in line with movements in global markets. UAE pump prices have tracked international benchmarks since deregulation in 2015, and 2026 has been volatile — prices climbed sharply from March following regional conflict and disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, fell steeply in July, and have now partly rebounded.
Are petrol prices the same across all emirates?
Yes. Fuel prices in the UAE are set nationally and apply identically in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. Every ADNOC, ENOC and EPPCO station charges the same rate, and prices are fixed for the full month rather than changing day to day.
When are UAE fuel prices announced each month?
On the last day of each month, effective from the 1st of the following month. August rates were announced on 31 July 2026 and take effect on 1 August. September rates will be announced on 31 August 2026. Announcements are published through WAM, the Emirates News Agency, and reported the same day.
How much does a full tank cost in the UAE in August 2026?
On Special 95, a 40-litre tank costs AED 139.60, a 50-litre tank AED 174.50, a 60-litre tank AED 209.40 and an 80-litre tank AED 279.20. Each of those is AED 8, 10, 12 and 16 more respectively than in July.
What was the highest petrol price in the UAE in 2026?
June 2026 was the peak for petrol, with Super 98 at AED 3.95, Special 95 at AED 3.83 and E-Plus 91 at AED 3.76. Diesel peaked earlier and higher, reaching AED 4.69 in both April and May. August prices remain below all of those levels.
Is diesel more expensive than petrol in the UAE?
Yes. At AED 3.80 per litre, diesel is 31 fils more expensive than Special 95 in August 2026. That premium has narrowed considerably — in April, diesel cost AED 1.41 more per litre than Special 95. Diesel engines are typically 15–30% more efficient than equivalent petrol engines, which usually offsets the higher per-litre cost for high-mileage drivers.
Should I use E-Plus 91 to save money?
Only if your vehicle manual permits 91 octane. The saving is 8 fils a litre versus Special 95, roughly AED 4 on a 50-litre fill, which is too small to justify using a lower grade than your engine requires. An engine designed for 95 octane running on 91 can knock and lose efficiency, cancelling out the saving and risking damage over time.
Do UAE petrol prices change during the month?
No. Once announced, rates are fixed for the entire month at every station nationwide. There is no daily fluctuation and no price competition between retailers, so there is nothing to be gained by shopping around for a cheaper station.
How do August 2026 prices compare to the start of the year?
They are roughly 50% higher than February 2026, which was the low point of the year. Special 95 was AED 2.33 in February and is AED 3.49 in August, an increase of AED 1.16 per litre. January was similarly cheap at AED 2.42. Prices rose steeply from March onwards following regional conflict.
Where can I check official UAE fuel prices?
Official rates are published by WAM, the Emirates News Agency, on the last day of each month, and carried the same day by Gulf News, Khaleej Times and other UAE outlets. Prices are also displayed at every station forecourt. Be wary of any site quoting a rate without naming the month, since prices reset entirely on the 1st.
The Bottom Line
August brings a uniform 20-fils increase across all four grades — the cleanest price change of the year in the sense that everyone is affected identically. For most drivers it means AED 8 to AED 16 more per fill, and somewhere between AED 20 and AED 45 more over a month depending on the car and the mileage.
The wider picture is more useful than the headline. Prices are still well below the June peak, but roughly half again what they were in February. After a year in which diesel moved 72% in a single month, a 6% adjustment is a comparatively calm one.
September rates arrive on 31 August. We update this guide the same day.
