Abu Dhabi - Motorists in the UAE spend the least amount of their per capita income on fuel than their counterparts globally.
Published: Tue 28 Jul 2015, 12:00 AM
Updated: Wed 29 Jul 2015, 2:13 AM
Consider this: Motorists in Italy spend 298 per cent more on fuel than their counterparts in the UAE; motorists in the UK pay 285 per cent more; those in Germany 250 per cent more; and those in the US 58 per cent more.
According to Abdullah Salem Al Dhahiri, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) Distribution, even after prices of fuel get deregulated in the UAE, motorists here will pay 211 per cent lesser than their counterparts in Italy; 201 per cent lesser than those in the UK; 173 per cent lesser than those in Germany; and 24 per cent lesser than those in the US.
Motorists in the UAE spend the least amount of their per capita income on fuel than their counterparts globally, said Al Dhahiri. "This is due to the high income earned here and cheap fuel prices. "The decision of the Ministry of Energy on deregulating the fuel prices is a positive step which will preserve our oil wealth for generations to come. It will help in rationalising fuel consumption, as well as providing the opportunity to local companies - which incur losses of billions of dirhams due to fuel subsidy - to offer the best services to consumers," said Al Dhahiri.
He said the decision is in line with the international trend on rationalising energy consumption and reducing carbon footprints.
Rates of spending on fuel differ from person to person, and include factors such as use of public transport as well as difference in tax rates.
For instance, if the price of '95 octane' petrol is increased by 30 per cent, and assuming that a motorist's car requires to be filled every week, the increase in fuel expenses per month will not exceed Dh80.