Qatari government raises fuel prices by 30%

Long queues formed outside Qatar's gas stations yesterday after the government announced a 30% hike in fuel prices starting from Friday.

The surprising increase was announced by the state fuel company Woqod in a memo sent to gas stations operators on Thursday, reported the Daily Mail.

Under the new hike, Super (97) now costs QR1.30/litre, up 30 percent from its previous price of QR1/litre, while the price of Premium (90) has gone up 35 percent from QR0.85/litre to QR1.15.

Although no formal announcement was made to the public, word quickly spread out and many Qatari drivers rushed to their local gas stations to fill-up before the new price was implemented.

The drop in international oil prices and a budget cut from the Qatari government are behind the price increase. Qatar is the fourth Gulf country to raise petrol prices in less than two weeks.