The region's fuel quality improvements are primarily driven by the refining industry and their export market requirements and are often not regulated even in GCC member countries.

Analysis

Road Transportation 

Heavy Industries 

Refining

Road Transportation ,Heavy Industries ,Refining

<p data-ccp-border-bottom="0px none #edf2f7" data-ccp-padding-bottom="0px" data-ccp-border-between="0px none #edf2f7" data-ccp-padding-between="0px"><span data-contrast="auto">In the Middle East, fuel quality improvements are primarily driven by the refining industry and their export market requirements and are often not regulated even in a number of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Most countries in the region aim to follow European fuel specifications and vehicle emission standards. However, refiners mostly start with sulfur reduction before further controlling other parameters. Nonetheless, the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) aims to eventually harmonize fuel quality and vehicle emission standards in the GCC member countries by setting several standards including GSO 2196/2021 for gasoline and GSO 477/2011 for diesel fuel.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:360,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:16249581,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}"> </span><span data-contrast="auto"></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559739&quot;:300,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:16249581,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p data-ccp-border-between="0px none #edf2f7" data-ccp-padding-between="0px"><span data-contrast="auto">Also, as the Middle East is becoming a major fuel producer for export markets, global sulfur reductions are pushing refineries in the region to be compliant to gain more export market share compared to older refineries that do not have the financial power of the GCC refineries. Since the last report, continued progress in the countries of Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Saudi Arabia highlights the significant impact of the sulfur reductions, signaling a broader trend toward harmonization of fuel standards across the Middle East. More countries are expected to follow in the near future, further reducing emissions and improving air quality across the region. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p data-ccp-border-between="0px none #edf2f7" data-ccp-padding-between="0px"><span data-contrast="auto">The full report covers 12 countries in the Middle East including the six GCC members of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E., as well as Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"></span></p>
<h2><a href="https://www.stratasadvisors.com/members/refinery-upgrades-and-regulatory-changes-drive-the-middle-east-toward-low-sulfur-fuels-/03262025"><em>Read more&nbsp;&gt;&gt;</em></a></h2>
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Refinery Upgrades and Regulatory Changes Drive the Middle East toward Low Sulfur Fuels 

<h2>Key Points</h2>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Saudi Arabia and Kuwait implemented 10 ppm sulfur fuels in 2024;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:16249581,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}">&nbsp;</span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Lebanon officially implemented 10 ppm for gasoline and diesel in 2024;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:16249581,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}">&nbsp;</span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Oman put into place a new diesel standard requiring 10 ppm in 2023;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:16249581,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}">&nbsp;</span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Bahrain has yet to implement 10 ppm nationwide despite completion of refinery upgrades;&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:16249581,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}">&nbsp;</span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Jordan is expected to follow GCC harmonization plan after refinery upgrades are complete in 2026-2027;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:16249581,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}">&nbsp;</span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">GSO standards are currently in place requiring Euro 4, Euro 5 or Euro 6b for Model Year (MY) 2025 and 2026 gasoline and diesel vehicles, depending on country; and</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:16249581,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}">&nbsp;</span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Saudi Arabia is the only country in the region to set mandatory fuel efficiency standards for light-duty vehicles from 2025.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:300,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:16249581,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:16249581,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}">&nbsp;</span></li>
</ul>
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