UAE Diesel Fuel Regulations: Licensing, Specifications, and Documentation Buyers Must Confirm

At a Glance

• A petroleum trading licence under Federal Law No. 14 of 2017 is required to import, distribute, or export diesel in the UAE.
• Road diesel must meet 10 PPM Ultra-Low-Sulphur Diesel (EN 590) limits under ESMA’s standard.
• VAT applies at 5%, with mandatory registration above AED 375,000 in taxable supplies, per the Federal Tax Authority.
• Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) bunkering requires a licensed, port-approved supplier.
• Confirm the minimum order quantity and payment terms before requesting a quote.

If your business imports, distributes, transports, sells, or stores fuel in the UAE, you need a trading licence from the competent authority in your emirate. 

Federal Law No. 14 of 2017 on Trading in Petroleum Products sets this requirement nationwide, across free zones and the mainland alike.

The licence itself comes with a cost. In Dubai, an import permit runs AED 10,000 per issuance or renewal under the emirate’s current petroleum permit fee schedule, and export, distribution, transport, and storage permits carry their own separate fees. 

Once your licence and end-use documentation are in place, you can move on to sourcing, whether that means arranging diesel trading directly or working through an import and export facilitation partner.

What Specification Does the UAE Require?

Road diesel sold in the UAE has to meet the 10 PPM Ultra-Low-Sulphur Diesel (EN 590) specification, with the 10 PPM sulphur cap enforced through ESMA’s fuel quality standard. 

The same specification sets a minimum cetane number of 51, a density range of 820 to 845 kilograms per cubic meter, and a minimum flash point of 55°C.

A supplier’s own spec sheet will not get a shipment through customs on its own. 

What clears a shipment is a Certificate of Analysis that references these exact parameters, so it is worth asking for one on every order, particularly when planning larger, recurring volumes.

What Documents Are Required to Import or Export Diesel?

Most shipments need the basics: a commercial invoice, certificate of origin, packing list, bill of lading, and delivery order. 

Because diesel is a restricted petroleum product, you will also need an import or export permit, trade licences covering the importer, exporter, and end user, a Certificate of Analysis, and a safety data sheet.

Four UAE ports are set up to handle this documentation end to end: Jebel Ali, Fujairah, Hamriyah, and Khalifa.

What VAT and Cross-Border Rules Apply?

Diesel transactions in the UAE carry a standard 5% VAT at each stage of the supply chain, confirmed by the Federal Tax Authority. 

If your taxable supplies and imports pass AED 375,000 within a rolling 12 months, VAT registration becomes mandatory, not optional.

For shipments crossing borders, contract under ICC Incoterms 2020 so both sides know exactly where risk and cost change hands. 

If you are moving product into the EU, confirm crude-origin documentation against Council Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014 before the shipment leaves, not after it arrives.

What Rules Apply to Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) Bunkering?

Bunkering at Fujairah Port works a little differently. 

Vessels can only take on Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) from suppliers named on the Fujairah Ports Authority’s official licensed-supplier list, so it pays to confirm a supplier’s status before you nominate a bunkering window rather than after the vessel arrives.

Why Are 2026 Global Disruptions Relevant to Buyers?

Two developments this year are worth watching. The EU’s ban on refined petroleum products derived from Russian-origin crude took effect on 21 January 2026 under Article 3ma of Council Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014, and it now requires EU-bound importers to document where the crude originated.

At the same time, Middle East refined-product exports remain nearly 60% below pre-war levels, according to IEA estimates reported by Reuters in September 2026. 

Together, these shifts make a licensed, well-documented UAE sourcing route worth more commercially than an undocumented spot cargo.

Minimum Order and Payment Terms to Confirm

Bulk orders for diesel from OJAS or MDO carry a minimum order quantity of 13,000 Imperial Gallons, roughly 59,100 liters or about 49 metric tons depending on density, and this applies to both products without exception. 

Payment is accepted upfront, on cash on delivery, or by bank transfer on delivery before offloading across all four confirmed ports and all seven confirmed markets: GCC, MENA, East, Central, and West Africa, Central Asia, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need a licence to buy diesel in bulk, or only to trade it?

Buying for internal use generally only needs a commercial licence showing that activity. Reselling, importing, or exporting requires a separate petroleum trading licence under Federal Law No. 14 of 2017.

2. What is the legal sulfur content for road diesel in the UAE?

Ten parts per million maximum, under the EN 590 specification enforced through ESMA. Anything with a higher sulfur content is generally limited to non-road industrial equipment rather than road use.

3. Is MGO a separate product from MDO in the UAE market?

No. Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) is the marine distillate referenced throughout the UAE bunkering market; MGO is not treated as a distinct offering here.

4. What happens if my order falls under the minimum quantity?

Orders below 13,000 Imperial Gallons are not accepted, since this threshold applies uniformly to both confirmed products with no port or volume exceptions.

5. Which ports handle bulk diesel and MDO shipments in the UAE?

Jebel Ali, Fujairah, Hamriyah, and Khalifa are the four confirmed gateways, covering buyers across the GCC, MENA, Africa, Central Asia, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.

Coordinate Your Next Diesel or MDO Order

Getting 10 PPM Ultra-Low-Sulphur Diesel (EN 590) or Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) delivered takes more than agreeing on a price. 

You need a valid trading license, the right export paperwork, and a coordinator who already knows how Jebel Ali, Fujairah, Hamriyah, and Khalifa each operate. 

Ojas Fuel Supply Services LLC coordinates and facilitates that process for buyers across the GCC, MENA, East, Central, and West Africa, Central Asia, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, without owning, guaranteeing, or stocking the fuel itself.

If you need diesel trading, supply coordination, import and export facilitation, bulk supply planning, or marine fuel coordination, start by checking your order volume against the 13,000 Imperial Gallon minimum and confirming which payment method works for your side of the transaction. 

Product availability, pricing, and delivery lead time remain subject to market conditions, product source, destination, and commercial terms agreed at the order stage.