UAE petrol prices to drop in August? What to expect at the pump

Dubai: The UAE's Fuel Price Committee is poised to announce the new retail prices for petrol and diesel for the month of August today. This highly anticipated announcement, made on the final day of each month, will determine the cost of fuel at the pumps across the Emirates beginning August 1.

These monthly rate updates, aligned with global oil market trends, help residents anticipate and plan their fuel budgets more accurately.

In July 2025, prices saw a notable rise, reflecting oil market strength in early June. Here’s what drivers have been paying per litre since then:

In July, Super 98 was priced at Dh2.70 per litre, up from Dh2.58 in June. Special 95 rose to Dh2.58 from Dh2.47, while E-Plus 91 increased to Dh2.51 from Dh2.39. Diesel saw a jump as well, reaching Dh2.63 per litre compared to Dh2.45 the previous month. (Check out latest prices here.)

Oil prices in flux — but cool off

After a turbulent June, oil prices entered July on shaky ground. A sharp late-June drop saw global crude benchmarks fall nearly 13% in a week — their steepest slide since March 2023.

Prices recovered briefly: Brent crude closed 2.3% higher in the last session — the biggest single-day gain in two weeks — while U.S. crude hovered near $67 a barrel. But even with these short bursts, July has been a relatively subdued month for oil.

Brent is currently around $70 a barrel, and U.S. crude around $67 — both still about 10% below their Q1 averages. Supply remains strong, and demand signals are mixed.

Here’s what’s keeping oil from surging:

• Increased output from OPEC+ countries

• Tepid demand growth in China and parts of Europe

• New geopolitical concerns, including US sanctions threats and EU penalties on Russia-linked firms like India’s Nayara Energy

U.S. President Donald Trump has now warned Moscow to end hostilities within 10–12 days, threatening “secondary sanctions” if no deal is reached. While oil markets are unsure how far he’ll go, analysts agree that such measures could drastically reshape price outlook if fully enforced.

What UAE drivers see in August

Because fuel prices in the UAE are closely tied to global oil movements and reviewed monthly, softer oil trends in July could lead to some relief at the pump.

July’s rate hike was largely influenced by strong oil performance early last month. But crude’s lack of direction in recent weeks could translate into a modest dip in August prices — provided no major geopolitical shocks occur in the coming days.

If current patterns persist, UAE petrol and diesel prices could drop by around 5–10 fils per litre, easing pressure on drivers who saw fuel costs spike in July.