Petrol stations in Dubai usually sell three grades: E-Plus 91, Special 95 and Super 98. The difference is the octane rating, meaning how resistant the fuel is to detonation under compression. For a rental car the two grades that matter are Special 95 and Super 98, since almost every car in our fleet runs on one of these two. You can always check which one your car needs on the sticker inside the fuel filler flap or in the owner's manual, and our staff tell you the correct grade at handover and note it on the handover form.
Which cars need Super 98
Super 98 is needed by cars with a high compression ratio and turbocharged engines tuned by the manufacturer for maximum output. That covers almost the entire premium and sports segment: the Lamborghini Urus and Huracan, the Ferrari Roma, F8 Tributo Spider, 296 GTB, SF90 Stradale and Purosangue, the Rolls-Royce Wraith, Ghost, Dawn, Cullinan and Phantom, the Bentley Bentayga, and the hot versions of the Mercedes-AMG G63 including the Brabus editions. The same group includes performance BMW M, Audi RS and Porsche models, up to the 911 Turbo S and GT3 RS. Run one of these engines on a lower octane grade and it either drops into a protective mode and loses power, or risks detonation, which means an expensive engine repair.
Which cars are fine on Special 95
Special 95 covers the vast majority of regular sedans, crossovers and SUVs: the Toyota Yaris and Corolla, the Land Cruiser Prado, GXR and 300 VXR, the Nissan Patrol, the whole Range Rover line from the Evoque to the Vogue, the BMW X5, the Audi Q7, standard Porsche Cayenne versions, and practically every Chinese brand in our fleet, from Chery and Changan to Haval, Geely, Jetour and Hongqi. Electric cars, the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model X and Cybertruck, the Xiaomi SU7 Max and the electric BYD and Zeekr models, do not use petrol at all and are charged at charging stations instead.
| Car category | Examples from our fleet | Fuel needed |
|---|---|---|
| Economy sedans and crossovers | Toyota, Nissan, most Chinese brands | Special 95 |
| SUVs and premium sedans | Range Rover, BMW X5, Audi Q7, Cayenne | Special 95 |
| Performance and hot versions | BMW M, Audi RS, Porsche Turbo/GT3, G63 AMG | Super 98 |
| Supercars and ultra luxury | Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley | Super 98 |
| Electric cars | Tesla, BYD, Zeekr, Xiaomi | No petrol needed |
Where to check the current petrol price
Fuel prices in the UAE are not fixed. They are revised monthly and announced at the end of the current month for the next one. Any AED figure you see in an article or post from a few months back is probably already out of date. The reliable way is to check the current price right before your trip in the ADNOC or ENOC app or on their websites, the two largest fuel station networks in Dubai. Both list the price of Special 95, Super 98 and E-Plus 91 as it stands that day. The gap between Super 98 and Special 95 is usually a few tens of fils per litre, but check the current figure there rather than trusting an older source.
Full tank at handover, first tank free
We hand over every car with a full tank, and it needs to come back full too if you want the standard terms with no extra charge. On rentals of 5 days or more, the first full tank is free: you receive the car already fuelled and don't need to pay for the first refill of the trip. On shorter rentals, fuel is paid separately based on what you actually use, same as with any other company. It helps to refuel in the first few hours after pickup so you remember which pump you need, green for Special 95 or blue for Super 98, the colour coding is the same at both ADNOC and ENOC stations.
What happens if you put in the wrong grade
If you accidentally fill a Super 98 car with regular Special 95, a modern engine usually detects the detonation through its sensors and switches to a gentler running mode, losing power but not breaking down immediately. Still, it is not something to drive on for long: running on the wrong fuel for an extended period increases wear and can lead to an expensive repair, which is the renter's responsibility. If you are not sure which grade your car needs, the easiest way is to ask our staff at handover or check the sticker inside the fuel flap, which always states the minimum octane rating.
How petrol stations work in Dubai
Unlike in many countries, ADNOC and ENOC stations in Dubai are almost always full service: you pull up to the pump, tell the attendant which grade you need and how much, or just say "full tank", and they fill the car for you, self-service is rare. This is handy if it is your first time driving in the UAE and you are not sure which pump to use, just say Special 95 or Super 98 out loud. Stations run around the clock on most highways and inside the city, accept cash and card, and the larger networks have apps with a station map and current prices. While you are there, staff will usually also check your tyre pressure and top up the windscreen washer fluid for free or a small charge.
Why this is worth knowing before your trip
The fuel grade seems like a small detail until responsibility comes into it. The standard rental terms assume the car is fuelled with what the manufacturer recommends and comes back full of the same grade. If you have booked a Ferrari, a Lamborghini or a hot G63 AMG, assume Super 98 by default unless our staff tell you otherwise. For a regular crossover or sedan, from Toyota to most of our Chinese brands, Special 95 is all you need, and there is no benefit in paying for Super 98, you will not notice any difference in how the engine runs, while the price gap adds up over a long trip. It is simpler to confirm at handover than to guess along the way.
The price is the same across the country
The UAE has one fuel price for all emirates: whatever Super 98 costs in Dubai on a given day, it costs the same in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or Ras Al Khaimah. That is convenient if you are planning a trip from Dubai to Hatta, Abu Dhabi or Al Ain, you can refuel wherever suits the route without worrying about paying more in a different emirate. The price only changes over time, once a month, not by location.
One last tip
At handover, check with our staff not only the fuel grade but also the fuel gauge reading and the dashboard display, it takes a minute and avoids any argument at return. If you are heading out on a long trip around the country, remember the price changes once a month across the whole UAE, not station by station, so there is no point hunting for a "cheaper" pump, the gap between ADNOC and ENOC on the same day is minimal.
