Saudi Aramco will introduce a new 98-octane gasoline grade to the Saudi market from early 2026, giving owners of sports and high-performance vehicles a fuel tailored to advanced engines while leaving existing grades unchanged. The launch is part of a broader effort, guided by the Ministry of Energy, to match fuel supply with shifting demand patterns and the growing presence of vehicles that require higher octane for optimal performance and efficiency.
New grade targets performance engines
Gasoline (98) is being set as a premium product designed specifically for sports cars and other high-performance engines that need higher octane levels to run efficiently and avoid knocking. By adding this grade alongside current gasoline products rather than replacing them, Aramco is giving consumers more choice and addressing a niche that has expanded as the local car fleet becomes more diverse and technologically advanced.
The company expects the new fuel to support both the automotive and energy sectors, improving performance for engines built to global premium standards and helping drivers extract better efficiency from vehicles calibrated for higher octane. The availability of a locally supplied 98-octane option also aligns Saudi Arabia more closely with other major markets where such fuels are standard for performance models.
Initial rollout in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam
In the first phase, Gasoline (98) will be offered only in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Dammam metropolitan area, as well as on key connecting highways serving these hubs. Aramco’s rollout plan reflects the concentration of high-performance cars and premium vehicles in these regions, where demand for specialized fuels is strongest and distribution infrastructure is most developed.
The company has indicated that any expansion to additional cities will depend on observed demand and consumption trends after the initial launch. This phased approach allows Aramco to calibrate supply, monitor take-up among drivers and retailers, and fine-tune logistics before committing to a wider national footprint.
Pricing to follow existing governance
Aramco has said that the retail price of Gasoline (98) will be published on its official website on the retail fuel sales page, in line with how other fuel prices are communicated. The new grade will be subject to the same periodic reviews applied to other energy products, under the approved governance framework for pricing energy and water products in the Kingdom.
That framework, which links retail prices to global benchmarks within set parameters, is designed to balance market realities with domestic economic considerations. Applying it to Gasoline (98) means the premium product will move with the same transparent rules, allowing consumers and fleet operators to plan around expected price adjustments.
By adding a higher-octane gasoline to its domestic portfolio, Aramco is aligning fuel supply with the needs of newer generations of vehicles that feature advanced combustion technologies, higher compression ratios and performance tuning. The move supports economic activity tied to premium and performance cars, from dealers and workshops to motorsport and enthusiast communities, while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s positioning as a major automotive and mobility market.
Story by Gulf News
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