The United Arab Emirates has officially announced petrol and diesel prices for April 2026, leaving motorists facing a massive increase of almost Dh2 per litre, one of the sharpest monthly hikes in recent years.The new rates were approved by the UAE Fuel Prices Committee and confirmed on March 31, 2026, in line with the country’s monthly fuel price revision mechanism. The surge reflects rising global crude oil prices amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions.
UAE fuel prices in April 2026
Driven by the global crude oil benchmark hitting multi-year highs, these changes represent one of the largest month-on-month increases in recent history. The official details of the new prices effective from April 1, 2026 are given below:
| fuel grade | March 2026 price (per litre) | April 2026 price (per litre) | price rise |
| super 98 | Dh2.59 | Dh3.39 | +Dh0.80 |
| special 95 | Dh2.48 | Dh3.28 | +Dh0.80 |
| E-Plus 91 | Dh2.40 | Dh3.20 | +Dh0.80 |
| diesel | Dh2.72 | Dh4.69 | +Dh1.97 |
UAE rates rise due to global oil boom
The UAE’s fuel prices are directly linked to global oil markets, and the April increase reflects a sudden spike in crude oil prices around the world.In recent weeks, oil prices have risen near $115-$120 per barrel due to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and concerns over supply disruptions, particularly around key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.Market volatility has intensified due to ongoing regional conflict, which has pushed up refining and transportation costs globally. The price of diesel in particular has seen a sharp increase across the world, which is reflected in the latest UAE price.
UAE Monthly Review System
Since deregulation of fuel prices in 2015, the UAE has followed a market-linked pricing system. The UAE Fuel Price Committee reviews and announces updated rates at the end of each month based on the average global price of oil and refined fuel products.This mechanism ensures that local fuel prices reflect international market conditions with minimal delay. As a result, any sudden increase in global crude oil prices is immediately passed on to consumers, as seen in the April revision.
fuel price trends
Fuel prices in the UAE remained relatively stable for most of 2025 and early 2026, even falling during some months due to soft global oil demand.However, an upward trend began in March 2026, with petrol prices still below Dh2.60 per litre. Therefore, the April increase represents a sharp turnaround, taking petrol prices well above Dh3 per liter in the same revision cycle.