UAE govt to announce new petrol price today

Dubai - The government had late last week announced that it would deregulate the price of petrol, and link it to market movements.

The UAE government is set to announce on Tuesday the quantum of change in petrol prices, which will come into effect from August 1.

The government had late last week announced that it would deregulate the price of petrol, and link it to market movements.

While speculations range from anything between 20 fils and Dh 1.20, what the actual hike will be will only be known tomorrow.

Petrol price hike to burn savings

The announcement had brought mostly negative reactions from local residents.

One resident, Azhar Zia Ur-Rehman, said he was worried that rising petrol prices will remove some of the incentives for foreigners to live and work in the UAE.

"The main reason for living here is the savings. Most people may reconsider if savings are hurt," he said.

Basit Aman, a 37-year-old lifelong resident of Dubai, said he thinks the move will primarily disadvantage the UAE's low-income residents.

"It's not fair on people with low income and get a car with their savings," he said. "Then it gets difficult for them to arrange for petrol with the increase." (READ MORE)

Oil companies give thumbs-up

Abu Dhabi's oil marketing and distribution company Adnoc Distribution welcomed the deregulation of oil prices.

"We support the decision liberalising the prices as it will help rationalise fuel consumption, conserving the environment and protecting natural resources for generations yet to come," said Abdullah Salem Al Dhahiri, chief executive officer (CEO) of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company or Adnoc.

"The decision to deregulate the prices of fuel in the country with effect from August 1, and endorse pricing mechanism as per the international prices of gasoline and diesel will give us an opportunity to upgrade the standard of our services," he said. "It will also help us continue our policy which is based on investment and expansion in building full-fledged service stations," Al Dhahiri said. (READ MORE)

Subsidy to benefit the economy

Top economists have welcomed the deregulation of petroleum prices, saying it would allow the government to channel funds away from wasteful inefficient subsidies into productive investments, infrastructure spending, education and healthcare. Such spending would boost economic growth, improve the UAE's global competitiveness and bring in foreign direct investment, they said.

Carla Slim, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank in Dubai, said subsidies reforms will allow the government to allocate more funds for capital expenditure and to keep supporting the economy.

Subsidy reforms are being considered across the GCC and policy shifts are under way, she said. (READ MORE)

No special subsidies for Emiratis

Emiratis will not be given any additional support to offset the expected changes in the cost of living due to the deregulation of fuel prices in the UAE from August 1.

• Subsidy cut is good news, even if doesn't sound so