ABU DHABI // Some residents have breathed a sigh of relief at the new petrol prices.
Abu Baker Siddique, 37, an IT technician from India, said that people had been apprehensive of the price changes.
“We were afraid it was going to be drastic, but glad that it’s not,” he said. “I make enough to live in Abu Dhabi but most of my money goes to my family in India. This is an added cost. I’d like to save money for myself. I might start taking public transport – but only when the weather gets better.”
Commuters were especially apprehensive of the price rises.
Beverley Noble commutes from Dubai to Abu Dhabi during the week. “I do carpool with somebody else occasionally. I had intended to maybe carpool with more people if the increase was more than 30 per cent.”
She believed the changes were manageable – so far. Ms Noble pays about Dh1,600 a month on fuel commuting to Abu Dhabi.
“I own a place in Dubai and have obligations. A big increase would’ve limited my disposable income by maybe not going on holiday,” she said.
Abdulla Al Mazrouie, 32, a businessman from Abu Dhabi, is a car collector and owns three high-performance cars – a Mercedes G65, a Ferrari and a Porsche 911 – and was very pleased with the announcement.
“As a businessman, I keep a monthly budget of all my expenses, including my vehicular ones,” he said. “I use Super on some of my cars, Special on my daily-use vehicles and E-Plus for my company cars. A big increase in prices would have created a shift in my personal and company’s budgetary needs.
“I do believe that it’s for the benefit of all. Our Government never acted in a hasty way without looking out for the welfare of its citizens. I think we’ll reap the benefits of these new regulations in the future.
“I’m a car collector and really do not use my cars that often except for certain occasions, but for my daily use I would really like to have an electric car. The way they work is fascinating, they’re great for the environment and everyone.”
Mr Al Mazrouie said that he was thrilled that this change was causing a shift in the way people perceived their daily expenditures.
“People never really cared about how much they were spending. A lot of it was taken for granted. An increase in electric bills in the past was a push for a more energy saving lifestyle. Water is another thing. I don’t think they realise how much the Government spends on desalination. Much of this water wasting can be saved.
“It’s an important mind shift that I think will change the way things are in the UAE.”
The UAE has one of the largest carbon footprints in the world. The Government’s January State of Energy Report said the UAE produced almost 20 tonnes of CO2 emissions per person in 2010, a 63 per cent increase from 2000.
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More on fuel prices
■ UAE fuel price change would cost about $387 per head this year
■ Analysis: long-term gain outweighs short-term pain
■ Other GCC countries may follow UAE lead
■ UAE fuel prices for August announced
■ Minister of Energy says new petrol prices are still relatively low
■ UAE taxi firms undecided on hike, but rise is inevitable say cabbies
■ UAE residents may have to consider options as petrol prices change
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nalremeithi@thenational.ae