Fuel prices in the UAE are set to rise significantly in April 2026, with sharp increases across all petrol categories and diesel.

According to figures reported by Al Bayan, the revised rates will come into effect from April 1.

• Super 98 petrol will increase to Dhs3.39 per litre, up from Dhs2.59 in March.
• Special 95 petrol will rise to Dhs3.28 per litre, compared to Dhs2.48 previously.
• E-Plus 91 petrol will cost Dhs3.20 per litre, up from Dhs2.40.
• Diesel has recorded the steepest jump, climbing to Dhs4.69 per litre from Dhs2.72 in March.

The increases mark a sharp month-on-month rise in fuel costs, reflecting heightened pressures in global energy markets.

The UAE adjusts fuel prices monthly in line with international oil benchmarks, meaning domestic rates typically track global supply and demand dynamics.

Celestyal has confirmed the cancellation of all April 2026 departures as its ships wait to reposition to Athens, Greece.

The line’s fleet is currently positioned in the Arabian Gulf, with Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, UAE, and Celestyal Journey in Doha, Qatar. All guests and non-operational crew have been disembarked, while both vessels remain fully operational; their departure from the region will take place in accordance with safety guidance from the relevant authorities.

Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, all sailings scheduled for April 2026 have been cancelled.

The next planned departures are:

• Celestyal Discovery – May 1, 2026 (3-night Iconic Greek Islands)
• Celestyal Journey – May 2, 2026 (7-night Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia)

Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “Our priority remains the safety and confidence of our guests, crew and partners. While we know this will be disappointing, taking this decision now provides greater clarity and flexibility for those affected.

“Our teams are working closely with guests and travel partners to support rebooking options and ensure a smooth transition, and we remain focused on returning to service in the Mediterranean as soon as it is safe to do so.”

All impacted guests have been offered a full refund or a future cruise credit, and will be supported by Celestyal’s teams, who will provide rebooking options and assistance.

The cruise line continues to monitor the situation closely and will resume movement of its vessels when conditions allow. Preparations are already under way for the return to service, with sailings set to resume from May 2026.

Authorities in Sharjah confirmed on Monday that a drone incident targeting a telecommunications facility in the emirate’s Central Region caused no casualties, as officials moved to contain the situation and urged the public to rely on verified information.

In a statement posted on X in Arabic by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau—translated into English—the authorities said the administrative building of Thuraya Telecommunications Company had been targeted by a drone originating from Iran.

Read more: Drone attack on Kuwaiti tanker off Dubai brought under control, KPC says

“Competent authorities in the Emirate of Sharjah are dealing today, Monday, March 30, with an incident resulting from the targeting of the administrative building of Thuraya Telecommunications Company in the Central Region with a drone coming from Iran, and no injuries were recorded,” the statement said.

Officials added that response teams are actively managing the situation and that further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

The statement also included a public advisory urging residents and businesses not to circulate unverified information. Authorities stressed the importance of relying on official channels for updates, amid heightened regional sensitivities and the potential for misinformation during fast-moving developments.

Investment in Middle East renewable energy projects rose 28 per cent last year as the region pushed ahead with large-scale infrastructure and grid development designed to support rising energy demand, according to a new report from Ansarada.

The 2026 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Outlook Report, produced with Infralogic, said global investment in renewable projects reached $496bn, driven in part by the surge in AI compute requirements.

Renewable energy investment in the Middle East reached $12.9bn in 2025, up from $10.1bn in 2024.

Based on a survey of 150 senior executives across APAC, EMEA and the Americas, the report shows the Middle East emerging as a strategic growth market, with 25 per cent of respondents identifying it as a top destination for renewable investment.

As Western markets contend with grid congestion and permitting delays, the report says the region’s sovereign-backed development model allows “rapid supply chain mobilisation and bankable pipelines” that avoid the grid-connection bottlenecks seen in Europe and North America.

The report highlights the region’s integrated delivery model, which develops renewables and transmission infrastructure in parallel. “The Middle East demonstrates what’s possible when projects are designed and delivered holistically,” said Justin Smith, MD at Ansarada.

“Building renewables and transmission together represents a fundamentally different approach than the fragmented delivery model common in Western markets,” Smith added.

AI-driven power demand to contribute to growth in the renewables sector

AI-driven power demand is adding to the pressure. With more than $500bn in AI infrastructure capital expenditure forecast for 2026 and US data centre energy use projected to reach 409 TWh by 2030, 37 per cent of global respondents and 36 per cent in EMEA cited AI compute requirements as the main driver of new renewable development.

The UAE’s emergence as a regional AI hub is expected to increase demand for integrated renewable and storage systems capable of supporting compute-intensive operations.

“AI compute demand is the single biggest driver of new renewables development,” Smith said.

The report shows battery storage becoming core infrastructure, with 34 per cent of EMEA respondents expecting strong growth in large-scale systems. But it also points to operational and financial pressures, with 44 per cent of respondents in EMEA citing macroeconomic uncertainty and high interest rates as key concerns.

Despite high adoption of procurement technology, the report identifies persistent fragmentation in project delivery. While 91 per cent of respondents use purpose-built procurement software, organisations still rely on an average of three to four disconnected systems, and 55 per cent continue to use email for sensitive bidder communication. “Organisations think they’ve digitised, but they’ve actually created a ‘Frankenstack’ of disconnected tools,” Smith said.

Only 37 per cent of respondents globally said their most recent procurement process was “very efficient”, falling to 8 per cent in EMEA and 29 per cent among government agencies. Although most said their internal processes were transparent, 43 per cent acknowledged limited clarity for external stakeholders, raising the risk of disputes.

ESG requirements are becoming more embedded in procurement across the region. In EMEA, 80 per cent of respondents said ESG is deeply integrated into their processes, and 90 per cent rated transparency and auditability as very important. Without auditable ESG data, the report warns that some projects may not qualify for tendering or financing. “That integrated approach, combined with proper digital infrastructure for procurement, separates projects that deliver from those that stall,” Smith said.

Nearly half of shoppers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now using artificial intelligence to help decide what to buy, although most remain unsure about fully trusting it, according to a new survey by Tabby.

The financial services app said 43 per cent of respondents reported using AI for purchase decisions, while only 30 per cent said they fully trust the recommendations.

Another 43 per cent said they might trust them, suggesting shoppers are still weighing up how much confidence to place in the technology.

The findings come from Tabby’s third annual Ultimate Middle East Shopping Survey, which drew responses from more than 20,000 shoppers across both markets.

The data suggests AI adoption is rising fastest among younger shoppers. Tabby said 51.8 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 29 have used AI in their shopping experience. While willingness to experiment is high, trust appears conditional. Shoppers said they are most comfortable with AI when it helps compare products or speed up decisions, and pulls back when the rationale behind recommendations is unclear.

The report also highlights changes in how consumers discover products. Tabby said 77 per cent of discovery now happens through digital channels, even when the final purchase is made in stores. Social media is the top source of product discovery, followed by online browsing. By the time 68 per cent of shoppers enter a physical store, they already know what they plan to buy.

Flexible payments have also become a key factor in retailer choice. Seventy per cent of respondents said they avoid retailers that do not offer flexible payment options, and one in five said they walk away from stores that do not provide them. Tabby said this trend holds across all income levels.

Tabby findings can help retailers navigate this difficult time: Hosam Arab

Hosam Arab, CEO and co-founder of Tabby, said many businesses in the region are facing a difficult moment. “We wish we were sharing this at an easier moment for the region. Many of the businesses we work with are navigating a difficult period right now, trying to plan with limited visibility. If this research helps even some of them make better decisions in the months ahead, it feels worth sharing.”

Responses were collected in November 2025 across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, spanning six nationalities, four age groups and income brackets from low to super high. The survey covers product discovery, hybrid shopping, in-store behaviour, payments, AI use and financial confidence.

The buy now pay later platform, headquartered in Riyadh, operates in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. It works with more than 40,000 brands, including SHEIN, Amazon, Adidas, IKEA, H&M, Samsung and Noon.