October fuel price hike sends Dubai motorists to pumps early

As soon as petrol prices for October were announced, many motorists across Dubai began heading to petrol stations to fill up before the new rates took effect. By Wednesday morning, some drivers were facing waits of more than 20 minutes, with many choosing to refuel during work breaks or making an extra stop on their usual journeys to avoid the after-work rush.

Khaleej Times visited four petrol stations in Al Garhoud, Business Bay, Al Khail Road, and Al Quoz, where motorists reported waiting between 20 and 25 minutes by 11am. Station attendants said queues had started forming at around 10.30am, shortly after the announcement.

Several drivers told KT they had been going about their usual routines when they read the news. They decided to fill up earlier than planned, with some expecting to save around Dh80 on fuel.

At a petrol station in Business Bay, Amr Al Four, who works nearby, said he had stepped away from the office to fill up his car. “As soon as I read the news about the increase in prices, I decided to refill my car’s tank. I knew that the stations would be crowded in the evening,” he said.

He was not the only one who took a break from work. Other employees also adjusted their routines to save a little extra on fuel before the new prices took effect.

For Salman, another driver, it was the sight of queues at petrol stations that caught his attention. “I did not see the announcement and was surprised to find so many cars waiting at a petrol station in the morning,” he said. He then remembered that it was the last day of the month and checked the fuel prices online. “When I learnt about the increase, I understood why motorists were queueing. My next stop was the nearest station to fill up,” said Salman.