The UAE has officially announced petrol and diesel prices for April 2026, with motorists facing a significant increase of almost Dh2 per liter, one of the largest monthly rises in recent years.The new rates were approved by the UAE Fuel Price Committee and confirmed on March 31, 2026, in line with the country’s monthly fuel price revision mechanism. The spike reflects rising global crude prices amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions.
UAE fuel prices in April 2026
The changes represent one of the sharpest sequential increases in recent history, driven by global crude benchmarks reaching multi-year highs. Here’s the official breakdown of the new prices effective April 1, 2026:
| fuel grade | Prices for March 2026 (per liter) | April 2026 prices (per liter) | price increase |
| Super 98 | DH2.59 | DH3.39 | + AED 0.80 |
| Special 95 | DH2.48 | DH3.28 | + AED 0.80 |
| E plus 91 | Dirham 2.40 | Dirham 3.20 | + AED 0.80 |
| diesel engine | DH2.72 | AED 4.69 | +Dh1.97 |
Global oil surge drives UAE rates higher
Fuel pricing in the UAE is directly linked to global oil markets, with the April rate hike reflecting a sudden surge in global crude prices.Oil prices have surged to around $115 to $120 a barrel in recent weeks as geopolitical tensions have intensified. middle East and concerns about supply disruptions, especially around major shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz.Increased market volatility due to ongoing regional conflicts has pushed up global refining and transportation costs. Diesel, in particular, has seen higher increases globally, which is reflected in the latest pricing in the UAE.
UAE’s monthly censorship system
The UAE has followed a market-linked pricing system since deregulating fuel prices in 2015. The UAE Fuel Price Committee reviews and announces updated rates at the end of each month based on the global average price of petroleum and refined fuel products.This mechanism ensures that local fuel prices reflect international market conditions with minimal delay. Therefore, any sudden increase in global crude oil prices is quickly passed on to consumers, as the April correction showed.
Fuel price trend
Fuel prices in the UAE remained relatively stable throughout most of 2025 and into early 2026, even falling in some months due to weak global oil demand.However, March 2026 marked the beginning of the upward trend, with petrol prices still below AED 2.60 per liter. The rise in April therefore represents a sharp shift in a correction cycle that has pushed petrol prices above Dh3 per liter.
