If you have felt that filling your car's tank has become more expensive each time over the past few months, this trend is likely still ongoing.

The UAE Fuel Pricing Committee is set to announce the gasoline rates for June by the end of the week, and indications suggest that prices may rise for the fourth consecutive month.

The main reason for this is the continued high price of crude oil, remaining above $100 per barrel throughout May. Regional tensions and disruptions in oil supply following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have kept oil prices elevated, with the average Brent crude price in May reaching around $106; a figure higher than the average of $99 in April.

Fuel prices have increased by about 50% since February. For example, Super 98 gasoline, which was 2.45 dirhams in February, has now reached 3.66 dirhams per liter.

However, one factor could still change the situation. Analysts believe that if negotiations between the U.S. and Iran lead to an agreement to reduce tensions, some of Iran's oil could return to the global market. This could increase oil supply and exert downward pressure on prices.

According to market experts, if a formal agreement is announced, oil prices may initially decrease by 4 to 8 percent; an event that could halt the upward trend of gasoline prices in the UAE.

For now, everything hinges on the decision of the Fuel Pricing Committee in the coming days and regional political developments; a decision that directly impacts the commuting costs of millions in the UAE.

Currently, the price of each liter of gasoline in the UAE is as follows:

• Super 98: 3.66 dirhams

• Special 95: 3.55 dirhams

• E-plus 91: 3.48 dirhams

Source: Gulf Times